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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has grown in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha 8 or better begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. After all the players have either called or folded, a further card is revealed on the turn. a further round of wagering happens and then the river card is flipped. The players must attempt to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some players often get confused. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely three cards on the board, and exactly 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are two 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 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 really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the higher hand takes the entire pot.

Although it seems difficult at first, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic nuances of play easily enough. Seeing as you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 offers an overwhelming range of betting options and because you have many players battling for the high hand, along with a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha/8.