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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complex but favored poker variations. It’s a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the players have in turn called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The players must attempt to put together the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a number of players often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical concept in just about all poker games.

A lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that might be made, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

While it seems complex at first, after a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental nuances of the game with ease. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha/8 provides an overwhelming collection of betting choices and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, as well as many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha/8.