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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. 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 everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

While it seems complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low offers an amazing assortment of wagering choices and because you have numerous players battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.