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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting ensues. After all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the same approach in almost every poker game.

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

It may seem complicated at first, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming array of betting choices and because you have numerous individuals shooting for the high, along with a few battling for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.