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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complex 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 chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are handed out, this is called the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a few entrants often get confused. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use exactly three cards on the board, and precisely 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 "higher hand" or the "low hand."

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

A lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

Although it seems complicated at the outset, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of betting possibilities and seeing that you have many players trying for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.