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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation 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 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players get baffled. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in nearly every poker game.

The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being 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 lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complex at the outset, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an amazing collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, along with several trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha High-Low.