Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant variation, has grown in popularity so quickly.

Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering ensues where players can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. A further round of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting happens at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where many players get flustered. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly how it sounds. It’s the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It’s the identical approach in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand takes the whole pot.

While it seems complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be agile enough to get the base nuances of play with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are being used at once, Omaha hi/lo offers an overwhelming range of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as several trying for the low hand. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi-low.