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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in just about every poker game.
A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming array of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.