Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some players often get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi-low provides an amazing assortment of wagering choices and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, and many battling for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.