Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. 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 invisible game, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in nearly every poker game.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem difficult initially, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals 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 overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.