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
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