Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem complicated initially, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing range of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high, as well as many trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.