Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which players can wager, check, or fold. 3 cards are given out, this is known as the flop. One more sequence of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, another card is flipped on the turn. a further round of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some players get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in just about all poker games.

The low hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the lowest 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’s no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.

Although it seems complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental nuances of play easily enough. Since you have people 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 provides an overwhelming range of betting choices and seeing that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as many battling for the low. If you love a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi lo.