Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure game, has grown in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt 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 players often get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A lower hand is more complicated, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex initially, following a few hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high hand, along with several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha/8.