Omaha Hi/Low: Fundamental Overview
January 16th, 2026 at 4:25
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than normal Omaha poker, aims for action from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure variation, has increased in acceptance so quickly.
Omaha/8 begins exactly like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are given out to each player. A round of wagering ensues in which players can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are handed out, this is known as the flop. One more round of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have either called or folded, an additional card is revealed on the turn. an additional round of wagering ensues and then the river card is flipped. The gamblers must attempt to put together the strongest high and low five card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a few entrants can get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player must utilize precisely 3 cards on the board, and precisely 2 cards from their hand. Not a single card more, no less. Unlike normal 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’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 nearly all poker games.
A low hand is more complex, but certainly free’s up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. A low hand is the weakest hand that could be put together, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The lower hand takes half of the pot, as just like the high hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the higher hand wins the whole pot.
Although it seems complex at first, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the base subtleties of the game with ease. Since you have individuals betting for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha Hi-Lo provides an overwhelming array of betting possibilities and because you have several individuals shooting for the high, and a few shooting for the low hand. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha/8.