Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens and then the river card is revealed. The players will need to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants can get confused. Unlike Texas Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

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

A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem complicated initially, after a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of wagering options and seeing that you have many individuals trying for the high, along with many trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha High-Low.