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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complex but popular poker games. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. One more round of wagering happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of betting happens and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers will have to make the best high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is the point where some entrants get confused. Unlike Hold'em, where the board can make up every player's hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player must utilize precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot can be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It's the strongest hand out of every player's, whether that is a straight, flush, full house. It is the same notion in just about every poker game.

The lower hand is more difficult, but certainly free's up the play. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don't count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be made, with the lowest value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don't count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand wins the complete pot.

Although it seems complex at the start, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game simply enough. Since you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha/8 offers an amazing array of betting choices and seeing that you have many players trying for the high, and several shooting for the low hand. If you love a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.