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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 main reason why a once obscure game, has expanded in acceptance so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, another card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will have to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where many players often get baffled. Contrasted to Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same notion in almost every poker game.

The low hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the entire pot.

While it seems complex initially, following a few rounds you will be able to get the fundamental subtleties of play with ease. Since you have players betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an exciting assortment of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous players shooting for the high hand, as well as several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with all kinds of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi low.