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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It's a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha hi/lo starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants can get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player's hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It's the best possible hand out of every player's, it doesn't matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It's the identical notion in nearly all poker games.

A lower hand is more complex, but really free's up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don't count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not 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 smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there's no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.

While it seems complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi lo provides an exciting range of wagering choices and because you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, along with many trying for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.