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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complex but well-loved poker variations. It is 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 irrelevant variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.

Omaha hi/low starts just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A round of wagering ensues where gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting follows and then the river card is revealed. The entrants must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly 3 cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the strongest possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the same notion in almost all poker games.

The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free’s up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no low hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, following a few rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at the same time, Omaha/8 provides an amazing collection of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have several players trying for the high, along with several battling for the low. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha hi lo.