Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest 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 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

While it seems difficult initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting array of wagering possibilities and because you have several players battling for the high hand, and a few battling for the low hand. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.