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 game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi/lo begins like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering happens and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players often get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same notion in almost every poker game.

The lower hand is more complex, but really 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 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 smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.

While it seems complicated at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the basic nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha 8 or better offers an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, and many trying for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.