Poker Tips Poker Tips for Beginners

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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players get flustered. Contrasted to 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 two 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 best hand out of everyone's, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same approach in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there's no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of wagering options and because you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it's worth your time to play Omaha/8.