Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the main reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike 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 hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical notion in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could 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 worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, after a few rounds you will be agile enough to pick up on the base nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at once, Omaha/8 provides an exciting array of wagering choices and seeing that you have many individuals battling for the high, and several shooting for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.