Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.

Omaha/8 starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where many players get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

A lower hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Although it seems complicated at first, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha High-Low provides an overwhelming array of betting choices and because you have numerous players battling for the high, and many battling 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 play Omaha Hi-Lo.