Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where a number of players can get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

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

A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could 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 lowest possible hand. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.

It may seem complicated at first, following a couple of hands you will be able to get the base nuances of play with ease. Seeing as you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing assortment of betting options and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.