Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many entrants get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the very same notion in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at first, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an amazing array of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have many players trying for the high, as well as many trying for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.