Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in nearly all poker games.

A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at first, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming assortment of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high hand, and many trying for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.