Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha/8 begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting happens. After all the players have either called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many entrants can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about all poker games.

A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest 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’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing collection of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.