Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is 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 expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players get baffled. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

The lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.

It may seem complicated at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an exciting collection of betting options and seeing that you have several players shooting for the high, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi low.