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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It’s a variation 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 increased in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. Another round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many players get baffled. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must utilize precisely three cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly 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, etc. It’s the same notion in just about all poker games.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to pick up on the base nuances of the game simply enough. Since you have players wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing array of wagering options and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, and many shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha hi low.