Omaha Hi-Lo, also known as Omaha 8-or-better or O8, is a popular variation of Omaha poker. It is a split pot game in which the players try to win both the high and low halves of the pot.
Definition and Basic Rules
Omaha Hi-Lo is a community card poker game where each player is dealt four private cards (hole cards), which belong only to that player, and five community cards are dealt face up on the “board.” The goal in Omaha Hi-Lo is to make the best five-card high hand and the best five-card low hand using any combination of two-hole cards and three community cards.
The high hand follows the traditional poker hand ranking, where a Royal Flush is the best possible hand and a High Card the lowest. The low hand has different rankings. A qualifying low hand consists of five cards ranked eight or lower. Ace is considered the highest and lowest card in Omaha Hi-Lo. The best low hand is known as the “wheel,” A-2-3-4-5.
A round of Omaha Hi-Lo starts with two players posting the small blind and big blind, respectively. Each player is then dealt four hole cards face down. The first round of betting, called pre-flop, begins with the player to the left of the big blind. After that, three community cards, known as the “flop,” are dealt face-up on the board. Another betting round occurs with the player to the dealer’s left. The fourth community card, the “turn,” is dealt, followed by another round of betting. Finally, the last community card, the “river,” is dealt with, and the last round of betting begins.
A showdown occurs if two or more players remain in the game after the final betting round. The players reveal their hole cards and declare if they are competing for the high, low, or both halves of the pot. The pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. If no qualifying low hand is present, the high hand wins the entire pot.
Objectives of the Game
The main objective in Omaha Hi-Lo is to win both the high and low halves of the pot, known as “scooping the pot.” Since this is a split pot game, players must build hands that can compete for both the high and low parts of the pot.
Another key objective in Omaha Hi-Lo is to maximize the potential winnings when holding a strong hand and minimize losses when holding a weak hand. This requires strong hand reading, game strategy skills, and an understanding of the odds and opponent tendencies.
Differences Between Omaha Hi-Lo and Other Poker Games
- Split Pot: In Omaha Hi-Lo, the pot is often split between the best high and low hands, whereas in Texas Hold’em and traditional Omaha, the entire pot goes to the best high hand.
- Four Hole Cards: Omaha Hi-Lo requires players to use exactly two hole cards and three community cards to make their hands, while Texas Hold’em uses any combination.
- Low Hand: Omaha Hi-Lo has a unique low-hand ranking system not present in Texas Hold’em or traditional Omaha, which adds more complexity and strategic depth to the game.
- Betting Procedures: In Omaha Hi-Lo, each player has the same fixed-limit betting structure, whereas Texas Hold’em and Omaha can be played in no-limit, pot-limit, or fixed-limit betting structures.
Omaha Hi-Lo Hand Rankings
High-Hand Rankings
In Omaha Hi-Lo, the high-hand rankings are the same as in other poker variations like Texas Hold’em. The following ranking order should be followed from the highest to lowest:
- Royal Flush: A Royal Flush is the highest possible hand, consisting of the A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: A Straight Flush is a consecutive series of five cards of the same suit, excluding the Royal Flush—for example, 6-5-4-3-2 of hearts or 9-8-7-6-5 of spades.
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same value or rank, for example, four Aces or four 6s.
- Full House: A combination of three of a kind and a pair, such as three Aces and two 6s.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, such as A-K-9-4-2 of spades, not in sequence.
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of different suits, such as 9-8-7-6-5 of mixed suits.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, for example, three 10s.
- Two Pair: Two sets of pairs, for example, two Aces and two 9s.
- One Pair: Two cards of the same rank, for example, two Kings.
- High Card: If no players have any above-hand combinations, the player with the highest card wins the high portion of the pot.
Low-Hand Rankings
In Omaha Hi-Lo, low hands are determined by the low number of the card ranks. To form a low hand, you must have five cards ranked eight or below. The following low-hand rankings apply:
- Five Low (Wheel): A-2-3-4-5 is the best possible low hand.
- Six Low: A-2-3-4-6.
- Seven Low: A-2-3-4-7.
- Eight Low: A-2-3-4-8.
Remember that straights and flushes do not count against the low hand, which means the best possible low hand is a 5-4-3-2-A Wheel straight.
Qualifying Low Hands
In Omaha Hi-Lo, a qualifying low hand must consist of five unpaired eight or lower cards. If there is no qualifying low hand, the player with the best high hand wins the entire pot. If two or more players have the same low hand, the low portion of the pot is split among those players, known as a quartered pot.
Importantly, each player is dealt four hole cards, and they must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards to create both a high and a low hand. This sometimes leads to tricky situations when simultaneously making a high and a low hand.
Variations
Omaha Hi-Lo has three main variations: Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, and Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Lo.
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (PLO8) is the most popular form of Omaha Hi-Lo. In this variation, the size of bets and raises are limited by the current pot size. Players can bet and raise any amount from the minimum of the big blind to the current pot size, including their call.
No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
No-limit Omaha Hi-Lo (NLO8) is a variation of Omaha Hi-Lo in which players can bet and raise any amount to their entire chip stack at any time during the hand. This variation is less common than Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, but it is still played in some casinos and online poker rooms. This game variation is more aggressive than Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo due to the possibility of all-in bets
Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (FLO8) is a structured betting version of Omaha Hi-Lo, where the size of bets and raises is pre-determined and fixed. This version is popular amongst players who prefer a more calculated and conservative approach to the game.