Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker games. 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 obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha Hi-Lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players get baffled. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in nearly all poker games.

A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

While it seems complicated at first, following a few hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an overwhelming range of betting options and because you have several individuals battling for the high, and several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.