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

Omaha 8 or better starts exactly like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to every player. A sequence of betting follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. Another sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the players have in turn called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The entrants will need to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where some entrants get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. No more, no less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best hand out of every player’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the very same notion in nearly every poker game.

A low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. 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 value being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest value hand possible. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and lower. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.

Although it seems difficult initially, following a few hands you will be agile enough to get the base subtleties of the game with ease. Seeing as you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing range of wagering choices and owing to the fact that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, and several shooting for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.