Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few players can get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical notion in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

While it seems difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough 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 in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming array of betting options and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha hi/low.