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

Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Hold 'Em, where the board can make up everyone's hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone's, it doesn't matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.

A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free's up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don't count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there's no lower hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.

It may seem complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of play simply enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/low provides an overwhelming array of betting options and seeing that you have several players battling for the high, along with many shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it's not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.