Poker Information Poker Information for Beginners

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It's a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some players often get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone's hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It's the strongest hand out of every player's, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same notion in just about every poker game.

The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem difficult initially, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi-low provides an overwhelming array of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha/8.