Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha hi/low starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players can get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t 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 smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.

Although it seems difficult at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of betting choices and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high hand, and a few 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 compete in Omaha/8.