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

Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more round of wagering happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few players get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in nearly every poker game.

A lower hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest 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 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem difficult at first, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an amazing array of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals battling for the high, along with many trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.