Omaha Hi-Low: Basic Overview

by Carmelo on February 2nd, 2025

Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times seen as one of the most difficult but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, invites play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible game, has grown in popularity so amazingly.

Omaha 8 or better begins 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 drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is called the flop. A further sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another round of betting ensues at which point the river card is revealed. 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 many entrants often get confused. Unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, where the board can make up every player’s hand, in Omaha hi low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly two hole cards. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."

A high hand is exactly 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. It is the identical notion in almost every poker game.

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

It may seem complicated at the start, following a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better provides an overwhelming collection of wagering possibilities and because you have numerous players battling for the high hand, as well as a few trying for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a considerable amount of outs and actions, it’s not a waste of your time to play Omaha/8.

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