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

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

Although it seems difficult initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi lo offers an amazing range of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, and several trying for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.