Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but popular poker variations. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once irrelevant variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 begins just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, another card is flipped on the turn. a further sequence of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Hold’em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to use exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the best hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in nearly all poker games.

A low hand is more difficult, but really free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that might be put together, with the lowest value being 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 low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no lower hand presented, the high hand wins the whole pot.

It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the fundamental subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an amazing collection of betting possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several individuals shooting for the high, as well as many shooting for the low. If you like a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.