Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players get confused. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical approach in almost every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi lo provides an amazing collection of betting options and because you have numerous individuals trying for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.