Omaha 8 or Better
This is the Hi/Lo version of Omaha.
It is a "split pot" game. Lately Omaha 8 or
Better has been the fastest growing game because you
have a better chance of winning (high or low) and it
is a fast paced game that moves well.
Limit Omaha 8 or Better
Means there is a specific betting limit applied in each
game and on each round of betting.
Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better
Meaning you can bet what is in the pot.
Basics for Omaha 8 or Better:
First there is the blind bet. This is when betting
takes place before any cards are dealt.
After the blind bet, the first deal comes out. On
the first deal you get 4 hole cards. Hole cards can
only be seen by you and not your opponents.
Now time to bet again
Next is the flop. The flop is 3 community cards that
everyone at the table can use.
Another round of betting comes after the flop.
Another community card is dealt now. This is the
fourth with one more to come.
Time for another round of bets.
Now comes the river card. It is the last card dealt
and it is also a community card.
Finally comes the last round of bets.
Time for the showdown. A hand is made of 2 cards
from your hole cards and 3 community cards.
Splitting the Pot
The hand is split by the players that have the best
hand and worst hand.
The highest hand automatically gets half of the pot,
and may get the whole pot because in order to go for
the low, you have to qualify for it.
To qualify for the low hand you must be able to use
5 different valued cards (2 hole & 3 community)
with all five being under the value of 8. Hence the
name Omaha 8 or better. When going for the low
hand an Ace can be played as a low for the best possible
"Low" hand would be A, 2, 3, 4, 5 (also known
as the "wheel" or "bicycle"). The
winning "Low" hand goes to the player with
the lowest high card. For example, a player with a 2,4,5,6,7
would have a better "Low" hand than someone
with an A,2,4,6,8. If two or more players have the same
high card, the player with the second lowest card (or
third, fourth, or fifth if necessary) in their hand
wins the low side of the pot.
Good to Remember:
1) Flushes and Straights do NOT count against you when
qualifying for "Low".
2) You can use the same cards or separate ones when
going for the high and the low in this game. If the
pot is split and there are two winners, and if there
are any left over chips after the pot is split, then
the winner of the high hand gets the remainder.
Ties: In case two or more players "tie" for
one side of the pot, they will split that half into
equally divided portions. If there is an odd chip(s),
it will go to the person(s) closest to the left of the
"button". (One player winning the "High"
side and two players who tie for the "Low"
side is not uncommon in Omaha 8 or Better.)
Key to Remember: To determine your hand(s) in Omaha
8 or Better, you MUST play two of your four "down"
cards with three of the "up" cards (community
cards). You may play different cards for the "High"
and "Low" sides. A player "scoops"
the pot when they win the whole pot. (This is your mission.)
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