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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering happens at which point the river card is flipped. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players can get flustered. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in just about every poker game.

The low hand is more complicated, but really free’s up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be made, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the high hand takes the complete pot.

It may seem complex at first, after a few hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of the game simply enough. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, as well as a few shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha Hi-Lo.