Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants can get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same concept in just about every poker game.

A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem difficult at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting array of wagering possibilities and because you have several players trying for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha hi lo.