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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 variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. 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 identical concept in nearly all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

While it seems difficult initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing collection of betting options and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high, along with several battling for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.