Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players often get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

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

The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of play simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting 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 many players battling for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.