Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting follows where players can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is flipped. The entrants will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in almost all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

Although it seems complicated at the outset, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi/lo.