Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants often get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical approach in just about every poker game.

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

It may seem complex at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an overwhelming array of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high hand, along with many trying for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.