Omaha Hi Low: Basic Overview
Sunday, 18. January 2026
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is often times viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker games. It is 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 invisible variation, has increased in popularity so quickly.
Omaha 8 or better begins exactly like a regular game of Omaha. Four cards are dealt to each player. A round of wagering follows in which gamblers can wager, check, or drop out. 3 cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. A further sequence of wagering ensues. Once all the gamblers have either called or dropped out, another card is revealed on the turn. a further round of betting ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers must attempt to put together the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is the point where a few entrants often get flustered. Contrasted to Holdem, where the board can make up everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi lo the player has to use precisely 3 cards from the board, and precisely two cards from their hand. No more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are 2 ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the best hand out of everyone’s, it doesn’t matter if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in just about all poker games.
The low hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that can be put together, with the lowest being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Considering that straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the smallest value hand possible. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the high hand. When there is no lower hand available, the higher hand takes the whole pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a few rounds you will be able to get the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have players wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and since such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an exciting range of betting options and seeing that you have many players shooting for the high, as well as several trying for the low. If you enjoy a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha hi-low.
Posted in Omaha by Brennen