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 regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha hi/low begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. 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 some entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards from 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 "high hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

Although it seems complicated at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi-low offers an exciting collection of betting options and seeing that you have numerous individuals trying for the high, as well as several battling for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.