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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi-low begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

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

The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since 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 lower hand available, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have many players battling for the high, and many battling 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/8.