Omaha 8 or Better / Omaha 8/b

Omaha 8 or Better (Omaha 8/b) is another poker game popularly played online. It is played very much like standard Omaha but it is a "split" game. This means that half of the pot goes to the highest hand and half to the best qualifying low hand. A qualifying low hand is one where all the cards are 8 or lower.

Omaha 8/b is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, usually with 10 or fewer players. Each player takes their turn as dealer, or a button is used to represent the dealer's position. The dealer button is then passed 1 position clockwise with each hand played.

First, the 2 players to the left of the dealer make forced bets which are known as "blinds". The second player to the left usually makes the biggest of these bets, known as the "big blind" and the person immediately to the left of the dealer makes a smaller bet, usually half that of the big blind. He/she is known as the "small blind".

Each player is then dealt 4 cards face down. In Omaha 8/b you are trying to create 2 hands, a high hand and a low hand. You must use 2 of your pocket cards for each of these hands. However, you can use the same cards for both hands.

Once the cards have been dealt, there is a round of betting. This is known as the pre-flop betting. The person to the left of the big blind will be the first to act in this round of betting.

Once the first round of betting is complete, 3 community cards are dealt face up. This is what is known as the "flop". These are community cards and as such can be used by all players to combine with their pocket cards to make their best hand.

After the flop there is a second round of betting. In this nad subsequent betting rounds the person to the left of the dealer will be the first to act. Once this round of betting is complete a 4th community card is dealt face up. This is known as "forth stree" or the "turn" card.

There is then another round of betting followed by the fifth and final community card. This is known as the "river" card or "fifth Street".

There is then a final round of betting. The player with the best high hand wins half of the pot. The player with the best qualifying low hand wins the other half.

A hand is made from any 2, but only 2, of you your pocket cards plus nay 3, but only 3, or the community cards. For a hand to qualify as a low hand, all the cards must be 8 or under. Straights and flushes don't count for low hands making A 2 3 4 5 the best possible low hand. You should note that as you need to use 3 community cards as part of your hand, if there aren't 3 community cards 8 or lower, then a low hand won't be possible for anyone. If no one has a qualifying low hand, the whole pot goes to the winning high hand.

Each player will make their best hand for both high and low, rather than just one hand. The same pocket cards can be used for both hands if you choose.

You should also notice that it can be possible for the same hand to be both the winning high and low hand. For example, A 2 3 4 5 would be an excellent hand for both.

Where to play Omaha 8 or Better Poker online:

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For more in depth reviews of these poker sites and more, visit our Online Poker Sites page.

Omaha 8 or Better / Omaha 8/b

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Omaha 8 or Better / Omaha 8/b Rules

Where to play Omaha 8 or Better Poker online:

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