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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It's a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha hi/lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many players can get confused. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player's hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone's, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It's the very same approach in nearly every poker game.

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free's up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don't count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the worst being 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 smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

Although it seems difficult initially, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting range of wagering options and because you have several players battling for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi/lo.