Omaha Hi Low: Basic Outline
by Raegan on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but favored poker games. It is a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for play from every level of players. This is the primary reason why a once invisible variation, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are given out to every player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can bet, check, or fold. Three cards are given out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of wagering happens. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, an additional card is flipped on the turn. an additional round of wagering follows at which point the river card is revealed. The gamblers will have to put together the strongest high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is the point where some players can get confused. Unlike Hold’em, where the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to utilize precisely three cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot might be won: the "higher hand" or the "low 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. It is the identical approach in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but really opens up the action. When figuring out a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the worst hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of 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 five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there’s no low hand presented, the high hand takes the entire pot.
While it seems complex initially, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have players betting for the low and betting for the high, and since so many cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo offers an overwhelming range of wagering possibilities and seeing that you have several individuals trying for the high hand, and a few battling for the low hand. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it is not a waste of your time to play Omaha 8 or better.
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