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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 is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief 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 dealt to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in nearly all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s 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 value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing array of betting options and because you have many individuals trying for the high hand, and many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi low.