Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha hi lo begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players get baffled. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical approach in almost every poker game.

A low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight 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 complete pot.

It may seem difficult at the outset, following a few rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting range of betting options and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high, along with a few trying for the low hand. If you love a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.