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

Omaha Hi-Lo begins like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about all poker games.

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

While it seems difficult at first, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/lo provides an exciting array of betting options and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high, and many shooting for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi/lo.