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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha Hi-Lo begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same concept in nearly all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the outset, after a few hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, along with a few shooting for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.