Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker games. It is 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 obscure game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to every player. A round of betting ensues where players can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. a further sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants can get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in nearly all poker games.

A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the worst being 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 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the complete pot.

While it seems complex at first, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the basic nuances of the game with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming assortment of wagering options and because you have numerous individuals battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha hi low.