Let's take a look at some best possible low hands, on the basis of a few sample boards. Why do we need to figure out what the best possible low hands are in 08B? Because when we conclude that we hold the best possible low hand, then we should be putting in as many raises as we can. When we have the best possible low hand, then of course we will usually win at least half of the pot, and we want our half to be as big as possible.

There are some situations in which you may want to stop raising on the end when you have the best possible low, primarily when there are only three players left, you have only a low, and the betting indicates that you're probably up against at least one other player with the same low. If that turns out to be the case, you'll win only one-quarter of the pot (this is called "getting quartered"), and thus you'll lose a small percentage of your own last bets and raises, but don't worry too much about this uncommon outcome yet.

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• Poker – No Low Is Possible (0)

Remember that the low hand gets only half of the pot (if it qualifies). This means that if no one in the pot makes a low, the entire pot is awarded to the best high hand. And if the board is such that there is no possible low, the pot will be awarded to the high only. For example, if the board is 6-6-7-7-9, then no low is possible. This outcome arises because there are not three unpaired cards eight or under on the board. Likewise, if the board is 4-4-5-5-4 no low is possible. Even though there are five low cards on the board, only two of them are unpaired, just one of the fours and one of the fives. Confused? Don't feel bad about it: lots of experienced Omaha players get confused in this situation too. It's easy to see that no low is possible when the board looks like 9-10-J-Q-K; it's when the board is full of low cards that it's easy to get confused when you're new at this.

To avoid confusion, look at it this way: you can use only two cards from your hand, so if the board is the 4-4-5-5-4, which three allow you to make a low? The 4-4-5? The 4-5-5? The 4-4-4? None of these combinations will work to make a low. So a board of 2-3-5-9-J or A-6-K-Q-4 or 3-2-Q-Q-A all potentially qualify while boards like 3-3-4-4-3 or Q-K-A-5-J or 2-3-2-Q-K or 8-8-7-7-Q don't qualify, no matter what your hand holds.

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