Learn How To Play Omaha 8

Omaha 8 is among the several variations of Omaha poker that have become a hugely popular game around the world. Omaha 8 is a split game that awards half the pot to the best hand and another half to the low hand. The basics of this poker game are easy to understand if you know how to play Texas Hold’em . The betting rules and hand rankings are the same. If you’ve never played a hand of Omaha before and looking to get a handle of the rules, then you’re at the right place. We have it all here for you covering Omaha 8.

Basic Rules To Play Omaha Poker

Omaha poker works a lot like Texas Hold ’em whether you play online poker live with friends or prefer online games. The main difference is that each player receives four hole cards rather than two when playing this card game. The poker game goal is to conquer your opponents by creating the best hand using exactly two cards from the four hole cards provided to you. Omaha poker game makes use of the same blind and dealer rules as Texas Hold ’em. Players also have the opportunity to bet, raise, call, or fold during each betting round.

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Rules

Just as in the general Omaha poker, there are four rounds of betting and a pot that is split 50/50 at showdown unless someone scoops the pot. There are two different ways to scoop the whole pot. First, you need to possess the best high hand when no hand qualifies for the low. The other way is to have both the best high hand and low hand.

The High Hand

In Omaha 8, the high hand is similar to a winning hand in general Omaha poker. The player having the best high hand wins the pot if there is no low hand that qualified.

Dealing With Cards

Third Street

Each player is dealt three cards with two cards face down and one face up, whoever has the lowest card starts the bet. If there are more players with the lowest card, the one closest to the dealer begins. The player showing the lowest card must make what is called a “bring-in” bet. However, the size of the bring-in varies depending on the size of the stakes. This continues until all remaining players have called the same bet.

Fourth Street

Players remaining in the game receive a fourth card, which is their second “up” card. At this stage, the player with the highest hand starts the bet, unlike the third street, where the lowest hand was forced to start the action.

Fifth Street

Players receive a fifth card, which is their third “up” card. Again, the player with the highest hand starts the bet. In this betting round, players must start using the upper betting limit.

Sixth Street

Sixth street is identical to the fifth street. Players receive a sixth card, which is their fourth “up” card. The player with the highest hand will start the bet. Sixth street betting uses the big betting limit.

Seventh Street

Players enter the final betting round at this stage, which begins with the player who has the best visible hand. One card is dealt face down to all the remaining players. All players examine this final card. The first player to start the bet is the individual with the highest poker value.  The player who has the best five-card poker hand, out of the seven in his front, wins the pot.

The Showdown

We reach the Showdown if there is a final betting round and if more than one player remains. Keep in mind that if only one player remains after any street, they win the pot, and the table moves on to a new hand without a showdown.

Qualifying Low Hand

The rules for qualifying low hand are as follows:

1. Aces are low for the low hand
2. Players may use any five cards for the low hand
3. Flushes and straights do not negatively affect the low hand
4. A low hand is five unpaired cards, not higher than an eight

Ranking Low Hands

In Omaha 8, Low hands are ranked ‘top-down,’ from the highest card. If there’s an equal highest card in rank, then the next highest card is used to determine the lowest hand. If the second-highest card were the same, then it will go to the third, fourth, and fifth cards, respectively. If players share the same low cards, then the pot is split between both players.

Verdict

Omaha 8 is like any poker game that gives you the chance to win money when you’re in a good position. If you are familiar with Omaha poker, we recommend you to try Omaha 8 game to get a feel of the game. Learning to play this poker game will open up the door for making a massive profit but requires a high degree of skill to be successful.

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