Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out 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. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an amazing array of wagering choices and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, and a few battling for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.