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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker variations. It is a variation that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.

Omaha hi/lo starts like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to every player. A round of betting follows where gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting 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 and then the river card is flipped. The players will have to put together the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.

This is where a few players can get baffled. Contrasted to Texas Holdem, in which the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player has to utilize exactly 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just how it sounds. It is the strongest hand out of every player’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same concept in just about all poker games.

The low hand is more complicated, but really opens up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the lowest being A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The low hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and smaller. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there’s no low hand available, the high hand wins the entire pot.

It may seem difficult at the start, following a few hands you will be agile enough to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are being used at once, Omaha hi lo provides an exciting collection of wagering possibilities and because you have several players shooting for the high, along with many battling for the low. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.