Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is 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 obscure game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, following a few hands you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high hand, and a few trying 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.