Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha/8 starts just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of wagering happens at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to put together the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No 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’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same approach in nearly all poker games.

A lower hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an exciting collection of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals battling for the high, along with several trying for the low. If you like a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.