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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It's a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha Hi-Lo starts just like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. 3 cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows 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 entrants often get baffled. Contrasted to Hold'em, where the board can make up every player's hand, in Omaha Hi-Lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely two hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It's the best hand out of everyone's, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the identical approach in just about every poker game.

The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free's up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be made, 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 smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand takes the complete pot.

Although it seems difficult initially, after a few rounds you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of the game easily enough. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an amazing range of betting choices and seeing that you have numerous players battling for the high, along with many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to play Omaha 8 or better.