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

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players can get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player's hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It's the best hand out of everyone's, it doesn't matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don't count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there's no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an exciting range of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high, and a few shooting for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.