Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in nearly all poker games.

The low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have players 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 amazing array of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, and several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.