Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in nearly all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem complicated initially, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an exciting collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, as well as several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.