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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It's a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha hi lo begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants can get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone's hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It's the strongest possible hand out of everyone's, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical concept in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free's up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don't count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don't count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there's no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have players wagering 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 provides an exciting array of wagering possibilities and because you have several players trying for the high, along with a few trying for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it's not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.