Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

Although it seems difficult at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, as well as a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.