Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha hi low starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same approach in almost all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.

While it seems difficult initially, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo provides an exciting collection of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players battling for the high, and a few trying for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi-low.