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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It's a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha hi/low begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Hold'em, where the board can make up everyone's hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

The lower hand is more complex, but really free's up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst 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 lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming range of wagering options and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it's not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.