Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players can get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely three 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 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

A low 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 might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complicated at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an exciting assortment of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, and several shooting for the low. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.