Poker Strategy

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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 favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players can get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical approach in nearly every poker game.

The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complicated initially, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an amazing collection of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.