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

Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in just about every poker game.

The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.

While it seems complicated initially, following a few hands you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have players 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 overwhelming range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, and many shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.