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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of entrants can get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card 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 just how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly all poker games.

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. 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 being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not 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 below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

Although it seems complicated at first, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an exciting assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.