Before you venture into Omaha High-Low, it's imperative that you understand the rules of Omaha High only.

The major difference in the game rules is that in Omaha High, the high hand wins. In high-low, either a high hand or a low hand (or both) can win. In fact, more than half the pots in Omaha High-Low are split between high winner and low winner. Often, more than two winners turn up at the end, and a single player can win both high and low.

The best high hand is, of course, a royal flush while the best low hand is a "wheel," ace-two-three-four-five.

The game is played with an "eight qualifier," meaning that eight is the highest card you can have in your five-card hand to qualify for the low end of the pot.

Sound confusing? Well think of it this way. You are actually playing two separate games with the same community cards. From your four hole cards, you are playing for a high hand, a low hand, and both a high and low hand.

Suppose, for example, you receive these cards: ace of clubs, king of clubs, two of diamonds, five of diamonds. At this point, you have an ace-king high and an ace-two low. If a three-four-and five hit the flop, you have a low hand and a high hand and could win the entire pot. Most Omaha players, by the way, will correctly start out going for a low hand.