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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi-low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where many entrants often get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same concept in almost all poker games.

A low hand is more difficult, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value 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 low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at first, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of betting options and because you have many players shooting for the high, along with a few shooting for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.