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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 is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few players can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in just about all poker games.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can 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 smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems complicated at the outset, after a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi/low provides an amazing array of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have many individuals trying for the high, and several shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.