Omaha Hold’em (also known as just Omaha) is a game that plays similar to Texas Hold’em, but with a few 💴 key differences.
Like Texas Hold’em, the object of Omaha is to make the best possible five-card hand, using a combination of 💴 hole cards and five community cards.
In Omaha, however, players are dealt four hole cards, and must make a five-card hand 💴 using exactly two hole cards and three community cards. This differs from Texas Hold’em, in which players get two hole 💴 cards, and can use any combination of hole cards and community cards to make the best five-card hand.
Two versions of 💴 Omaha are commonly played around the world, Pot Limit Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo (aka Omaha Eight or Better). The next 💴 sections will cover Omaha Hi-Lo. Learn how to play Pot Limit Omaha here.
Omaha Hi Lo Rules Overview
Omaha 8, also known 💴 as Omaha Eight or Better, or Omaha high low split ('Hi/Lo'), is a split pot game. The best high hand 💴 wins half of the pot, and the best low hand wins the other half of the pot.
Much like its cousin, 💴 Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha 8 or Better involves four hole cards for each player. The object of Omaha 8 is 💴 to make the best five-card high hand, and/or best five-card low hand, using exactly two hole cards and three community 💴 cards. Different combinations of cards can be used by a player to make separate high and low hands.
It is possible 💴 for a player to win both the high and low portions of the pot--known as "scooping". If there is no 💴 qualifying low hand (five cards below 8), the best high hand will scoop the whole pot.
Omaha 8 can be played 💴 as a limit, pot limit or even no limit game. The most common variant is Limit Omaha 8 or Better, 💴 which is also the variant included in most mixed games. For more on the different betting structures used in Omaha 💴 8, click on the "Limit vs. No Limit vs. Pot Limit" tab above.
How to play Limit Omaha 8 or Better 💴 poker:
Limit Omaha 8 or Better uses a "blinds" structure: The player to the left of the dealer button puts in 💴 the small blind, and the player two to the left of the button puts in the big blind.
The player to 💴 the left of the dealer button puts in the small blind, and the player two to the left of the 💴 button puts in the big blind. Each player is dealt four cards face down, starting with the player to the 💴 left of the dealer.
starting with the player to the left of the dealer. There is a round of betting where 💴 each player can fold, call, or raise. (Action starts with the player to the left of the big blind.)
(Action starts 💴 with the player to the left of the big blind.) The flop (three cards), a turn and a river are 💴 dealt with betting rounds following each.
At showdown, players must use exactly 2 hole cards to make their best 5 card 💴 high and low hand. The same cards can be used to make a high and a low hand.
The same cards 💴 can be used to make a high and a low hand. A low hand qualifies for half of the pot 💴 when it is an 8-low or better. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand scoops the entire 💴 pot.
If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand scoops the entire pot. Omaha 8 or Better is usually 💴 a fixed limit game, meaning players can only bet and raise a set amount - one big blind preflop and 💴 on the flop, and two big blinds on the turn and river. Only four bets may go in on each 💴 street, which is why the 4th bet is called the "cap".
Showdown and Hand Rankings:
The high hand rankings follow traditional poker 💴 hand rankings.
The low hand follows the A-to-5 lowball hand rankings, in which Aces are the lowest card and flushes and 💴 straights don’t count against your hand. This makes 5-4-3-2-A the best possible low hand (and a strong high hand in 💴 its own right). The worst qualifying low hand is 8-7-6-5-4.
Check out this article for some Omaha 8 or Better (and 💴 limit Hold'em) strategy tips.
Note: Are you here just to learn how to play poker...or do you want to know how 💴 to win too? Get this free guide with 10 quick poker strategy tips if you want to come out on 💴 top.
