Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. 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 obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha hi-low starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in almost all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out 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 do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi lo offers an amazing range of betting options and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and many trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha hi lo.