Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in just about every poker game.

The low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems difficult at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/lo offers an exciting collection of betting possibilities and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.