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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may 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 everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical approach in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players 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 range of wagering choices and because you have several players trying for the high, and several shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi low.