Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha hi/low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in almost every poker game.

A low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out 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 made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest 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’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

While it seems difficult at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi low provides an exciting array of wagering options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, and several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.