Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given 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 flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same concept in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complex initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the base nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha hi/low offers an exciting assortment of betting options and seeing that you have many players trying for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi/low.