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’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in almost all poker games.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/low provides an overwhelming range of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, as well as many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.