Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of entrants can get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular 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’s the best hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost all poker games.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as 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 wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the entire pot.

Although it seems complex at the outset, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming collection of betting choices and seeing that you have many players battling for the high hand, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha hi lo.