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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players can get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just 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 is the same notion in almost every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of wagering choices and because you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, along with several shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.