Omaha Hi/Low: Basic Overview
Posted in Omaha on 02/14/2026 06:25 am by Dale
Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is frequently viewed as one of the most complicated but well-loved poker variations. It is a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites action from every level of players. This is the chief reason why a once irrelevant game, has increased in popularity so amazingly.
Omaha/8 starts just like a regular game of Omaha. 4 cards are handed out to each player. A round of wagering follows in which players can wager, check, or fold. Three cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. After all the gamblers have in turn called or folded, an additional card is flipped on the turn. Another sequence of betting follows at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands using the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants often get confused. Unlike Holdem, in which the board can be every player’s hand, in Omaha hi/lo the player has to use precisely three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, no less. Contrary to regular Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "higher hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is exactly what it sounds like. It is the best possible hand out of everyone’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in nearly all poker games.
The lower hand is more complex, but certainly opens up the action. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes do not count. the lowest hand is the worst hand that might be put together, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Because straights and flushes do not count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The low hand is any five card hand (unpaired) with an eight and smaller. The lower hand wins half of the pot, as does the higher hand. When there is no low hand presented, the high hand wins the complete pot.
It may seem complex at the outset, after a couple of hands you will be able to pick up on the basic nuances of play with ease. Since you have people wagering for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as so many cards are in play, Omaha 8 or better offers an amazing assortment of betting options and seeing that you have many individuals shooting for the high, along with a few shooting for the low. If you enjoy a game with a plethora of outs and actions, it’s worth your time to play Omaha hi/lo.