Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It’s 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 invisible game, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues where players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many players get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in almost all poker games.

The low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing assortment of wagering options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high hand, as well as several shooting for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.