Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha hi lo starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical concept in just about every poker game.

A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, following a few rounds 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 amazing array of wagering choices and seeing that you have many players battling for the high, along with a few battling for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.