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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It's a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has grown 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 round of betting follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of betting happens. Once all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, a further card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is flipped. The entrants must attempt to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players often get flustered. Unlike Texas Holdem, where the board can make up every player's hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to utilize exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of every player's, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the very same concept in almost all poker games.

The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don't count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don't count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there's no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem complicated at the start, after a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the fundamental subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha hi/lo offers an amazing range of wagering possibilities and because you have several individuals battling for the high hand, along with many battling for the low hand. If you love a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to participate in Omaha/8.