Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players can get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

The lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the whole pot.

Although it seems complicated at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals 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/8 provides an amazing assortment of wagering options and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, along with a few shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.