Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha hi low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players often get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting collection of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, and many trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.