Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same notion in just about all poker games.

The lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems complex initially, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of the game easily enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous players battling for the high hand, along with a few trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.