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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the very same concept in nearly every poker game.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because 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 wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of betting options and because you have many players shooting for the high, as well as many battling for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.