Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has grown in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha Hi-Lo begins just like a regular 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 dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical concept in almost every poker game.

The lower hand is more complex, but really free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower 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’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.

Although it seems difficult at first, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha High-Low provides an amazing range of wagering choices and because you have many players shooting for the high, and several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.