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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha hi lo begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once 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 flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in nearly every poker game.

The low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems complicated at first, following a few rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing assortment of betting choices and because you have many players shooting for the high, and many battling for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.