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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many entrants often get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same concept in just about all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

While it seems difficult at first, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an amazing array of betting possibilities and because you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi/low.