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Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It's a variation that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the chief reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in popularity so rapidly.

Omaha/8 begins like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A sequence of betting follows where players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are given out, this is known as the flop. Another round of betting happens. After all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of wagering follows and then the river card is flipped. The players will need to make the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.

This is where many entrants get flustered. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can make up everyone's hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must use exactly 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 might be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."

A high hand is just what it sounds like. It's the strongest hand out of every player's, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house. It's the identical approach in nearly all poker games.

A low hand is more complex, but certainly free's up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don't count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the lowest value being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don't count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest 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 higher hand. When there's no low hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.

It may seem complex at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic subtleties of play easily enough. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low offers an overwhelming array of wagering possibilities and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, and several battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.