Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas 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 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in almost all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but really free’s 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 put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have players 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 offers an exciting array of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.