Omaha Hi/Low: Basic Overview
by Bo on October 12th, 2025
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once invisible game, has expanded in popularity so rapidly.
Omaha/8 starts like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to each player. A sequence of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers 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 gamblers must attempt to make the strongest high and low five card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a number of entrants often get baffled. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player must use precisely three cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot may be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It’s the identical notion in just about all poker games.
A lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the play. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the worst hand that can be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
It may seem complicated at the outset, following a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Since you have individuals wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an exciting range of betting possibilities and seeing that you have several players shooting for the high hand, as well as many trying for the low hand. If you like a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it is worth your time to participate in Omaha 8 or better.
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