Omaha Hi-Lo: Become an Expert in Minutes
Omaha Hi-Lo is a popular poker variant played online, in casinos and at home with friends and family. Also known as Omaha 8 and Omaha 8-or-Better, this World War 2 era game has lived long and made its way to casinos and online poker sites for all to enjoy. It’s easy to learn and as always, practise makes perfect. This game is especially popular because of the big pots that can be won.
Supplies You Need to Play
If you’re playing with other people live, you’ll need a dealer, cards and betting chips. If you’ve decided to play online or on mobile, you need an internet connection or data and a device to play on.
How to Play Omaha Hi-Lo
Players will bet their small and/or big blinds and be dealt four-hole cards. Players will then place their pre-flop bets.
Next comes the flop and players will then bet or fold. The dealer will then reveal the turn and players will, again, bet or fold.
Finally, comes the river and players will fold or bet for the final time. From here is the showdown, and players must use 2 out of their 4-hole cards and the community cards to make the highest or lowest 5 card hand.
If there is both a high and low hand, they will split the pot. If it’s just a high hand, the high hand takes the pot.
Variations of Omaha Hi-Lo
| Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo | Bets are limited to the number chips that are currently in the pot. |
| Limit Omaha Hi-Lo | Each round of betting will have a specific limit. |
| No-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo | There are no limits to bets. |
| Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo | Will rotate through the above variations after each game. |
Hand Rankings
Omaha Hi-Lo lets high and low hands win, however, the low hands need to be no higher than an 8. Here are the top 5 low hands a player can win with:
5-4-3-2-A;
6-4-3-2-A;
6-5-4-3-2;
7-5-4-3-2; and
7-6-5-2-A.
The following is regular poker hand rankings, which would apply to the high hands in Omaha Hi-Lo:
| Ranking | Hand | Description |
| #1 | Royal Flush | A straight from 10 to Ace, all the same suit. |
| #2 | Straight Flush | Any cards in consecutive order that are all of the same suit. |
| #3 | Four of a Kind | Four of the same card. |
| #4 | Full House | One pair and three of the same card. |
| #5 | Flush | All cards are the same suit. |
| #6 | Straight | Cards are in consecutive order. |
| #7 | Three of a Kind | Three of the same card. |
| #8 | Two Pairs | One pair of one card and one pair of another card. |
| #9 | Pair | Two of the same card. |
| #10 | High Card | The highest card at the table. |
Terms to Know
Small blind: Usually half the size of the big blind, the small blind is placed by the player sitting to the left of the dealer.
Big Blind: Usually the minimum bet, the big blind is placed by the player to the left of that who played the small blind.
Pre-Flop: Once the players have been dealt their face down cards, but community cards have not been shown yet.
Flop: The first three community cards to be shown.
Turn: The fourth community card to be shown.
River: The final community card shown.
Last Thoughts
Omaha Hi-Lo is a game anyone can learn and eventually master. Keep these tips in mind and remember that practice makes perfect. Remember know when to fold and play responsibly.
Best Variants to Master
Is Omaha Hi-Lo your game? Looking for something new to master? Play some of our favorite variants below.
Texas Hold’em – 3 Card Poker – 5 Card Draw – Stud Poker – 5 Card Stud – 7 Card Stud – Mississippi Stud – Caribbean Stud – HORSE Poker – Omaha Poker
Frequently Asked Questions
The best hands to start with would be A-A-2-4 or A-A-2-5.
For high hands in Omaha Hi-Lo, standard poker hand rankings apply.
No, players must use 2 of their hole cards and 3 community cards to make the highest/lowest 5 card hand.