Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants can get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same approach in almost every poker game.

A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, after a few hands you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an amazing collection of betting options and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, along with several battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.