Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical approach in almost all poker games.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

While it seems difficult initially, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of wagering choices and because you have several individuals trying for the high, and many shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.