Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen 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 all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants often get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the identical concept in nearly all poker games.

The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest being made up of 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 eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

While it seems complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, along with a few trying for the low hand. 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.