Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further round of betting ensues. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost all poker games.

A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult initially, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic 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 once, Omaha High-Low provides an exciting array of wagering options and because you have several players battling for the high hand, along with several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi/lo.