Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha hi/lo starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular 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 best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical notion in nearly all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems complicated at the outset, after a few rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an overwhelming array of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, along with several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.