Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha hi/low begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in just about all poker games.

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem complicated initially, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an exciting assortment of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha High-Low.