Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in nearly all poker games.

A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.

It may seem difficult at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, and a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.