Omaha Hi Lo: Basic Overview
Posted in Poker on 02/22/2026 04:25 pm by Marley
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) is commonly seen as one of the most difficult but well-loved poker variations. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from all levels of players. This is the main reason why a once obscure variation, has expanded in popularity so quickly.
Omaha/8 starts like a normal game of Omaha. Four cards are handed out to every player. A sequence of wagering follows where gamblers can bet, check, or drop out. Three cards are dealt out, this is referred to as the flop. Another sequence of betting happens. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. a further round of wagering ensues and then the river card is revealed. The gamblers will need to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where many entrants get flustered. Contrasted to Texas Hold ‘Em, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/low the player has to use precisely 3 cards on the board, and exactly two cards from their hand. Not a single card more, not a single card less. Unlike regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot can be won: the "higher hand" or the "lower hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It is the strongest hand out of everyone’s, whether that is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost every poker game.
A lower hand is more complicated, but certainly free’s up the action. When determining a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. A low hand is the weakest hand that can be made, with the worst being A-2-3-4-5. Seeing as straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible hand. The lower hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an 8 and below. The low hand takes half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no lower hand available, the high hand takes the entire pot.
Although it seems difficult at the outset, after a couple of rounds you will be able to get the base subtleties of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and betting for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha High-Low offers an amazing collection of wagering choices and seeing that you have numerous individuals shooting for the high hand, as well as many battling for the low. If you prefer a game with a lot of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to participate in Omaha Hi-Lo.