Omaha Hi-Lo Poker

Omaha Hi-Lo, also known as Omaha 8 or Better, is a captivating poker variant. This dynamic game blends the excitement of traditional Omaha with an innovative split-pot mechanic, offering poker players the unique opportunity to vie for both high and low portions of the pot in each hand.

At Bodog we offer a diverse range of Omaha poker formats. Our selection includes Pot-Limit Sit & Go tournaments, Multi-Table Tournaments in Pot Limit, No Limit, and Fixed Limit variants, as well as Pot Limit Cash Games and the fast-paced Zone Poker.

If you are well-versed in pot-limit Omaha, transitioning to Omaha Hi-Lo is a natural progression, as the foundational structure remains consistent.

Omaha Hi-Lo Game Variations

Omaha Hi-Lo offers players a variety of betting formats, each providing a unique gameplay experience:

Fixed Limit: This structure imposes specific betting caps for each round, creating a more controlled and strategic environment.
Pot Limit: Here, players can wager up to the current pot size, allowing for larger bets.
No Limit: The most dynamic format, allowing players to risk their entire stack at any time.

Cash Games and Zone Poker

We provide Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tables, all featuring a short-handed format with six players per table. These cash games span a wide range of stakes, from $0.02/$0.05 to high-stakes at $10/$20. For those seeking a faster-paced experience, our Zone Poker now includes Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tables. These Zone tables maintain the six-player, short-handed format and are available at two specific stake levels: $0.05/$0.10 and $0.25/$0.50.

Omaha Hi-Lo Tournaments

At Bodog, Omaha Hi-Lo porker tournaments include both Sit & Go and Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs) in this popular split-pot variant. The Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Sit & Go tournaments are designed to start as soon as they fill up, providing a fast and flexible option for those with limited time or a desire for rapid play. Buy-ins for these Sit & Go tournaments range from as low as $1 to as high as $100.

If you are looking for larger fields and potentially bigger paydays, our Multi-Table Tournament offerings in Omaha Hi-Lo are particularly robust. These MTTs come with an impressively wide range of buy-ins, starting from just $1 and reaching up to $1,000 for high-stakes events. What sets Bodog's Omaha Hi-Lo MTTs apart is the variety of betting structures available. You can choose from:

Pot Limit: Similar to the Sit & Gos, these tournaments cap bets at the current pot size.
No Limit: For those who prefer unrestricted action, these tournaments allow players to bet all their chips at any time.
Fixed Limit: These tournaments offer a more structured betting format, with predetermined bet sizes that increase as the tournament progresses.

Omaha Hi-Lo Rules

Omaha Hi-Lo, also known as Omaha Eight or Better, presents a unique twist on traditional poker, offering players the chance to win with both high and low hands. This split-pot variant adds layers of strategy and excitement to the game, making it a favorite among poker enthusiasts seeking a new challenge.

The game begins with each player receiving four private hole cards, setting the stage for complex hand-building possibilities. As in other community card games, five shared cards are dealt face-up on the board over three stages: the flop, turn, and river. However, the real intrigue of Omaha Hi-Lo lies in how these cards are used.

Players must use exactly two of their hole cards and three community cards to form their hand, but here's the catch: they can use different combinations for their high and low hands. This rule creates a dynamic where players often aim for "two-way" hands, capable of winning both the high and low portions of the pot.

The pot division in Omaha Hi-Lo adds another strategic element. At showdown, the pot is split equally between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. To qualify for the low pot, a hand must consist of five different cards ranked eight or lower, with aces always counting as low. If no hand qualifies for low, the entire pot goes to the high hand winner.

Have a look to our online poker games strategies page to know more about poker and its variants.

Omaha Hi-Lo Hands

In Omaha Hi-Lo, understanding hand values is essential as players must consider both high and low combinations simultaneously. This dual focus adds depth to the game, requiring players to think strategically about their hand's potential in both directions.

The high hand rankings in Omaha Hi-Lo mirror those of traditional poker variants like Texas Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha. The hierarchy remains familiar, with the royal flush reigning supreme, followed by straight flushes, four of a kind, and so on down to high card. However, the real intrigue lies in the low hand possibilities.

For a hand to qualify as a low in Omaha Hi-Lo, it must consist of five different cards, each ranked eight or lower. Aces play a crucial role here, as they're considered the lowest card for low hands. The best possible low hand, affectionately known as the "wheel," is 5-4-3-2-A. This hand is particularly powerful as it can often win both the high and low portions of the pot, a feat known as "scooping."

When evaluating low hands, players read from the highest card down. For instance, 7-6-4-3-2 would be described as a "Seven-low," beating an "Eight-low" like 8-5-4-3-2. It's important to note that straights and flushes don't count against low hands, adding another layer of complexity to hand reading.

The dual nature of Omaha Hi-Lo hands often leads players to seek "two-way" hands that have potential for both high and low. Starting hands like A-2-3-4 are highly prized, as they offer strong low potential while still providing a shot at high hands with favorable flops.

Differences Between Omaha Hi-Lo, Omaha and Texas Hold’em

While Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo may seem like distant cousins in the poker family, they share many similarities. Both variants are rooted in the pursuit of the "nuts" - the best possible hand given the community cards. This focus on premium hands sets them apart from Texas Hold'em.

In both Omaha variants, middling hands like pairs and two pairs, often strong contenders in Hold'em, become mere spectators. The abundance of potential draws in these games means that what looks strong on the flop can become a stark underdog by the turn.

The games diverge, however, in their endgame. While Omaha players aim solely for the highest hand, their Hi-Lo counterparts must navigate the dual challenges of high and low possibilities. This split focus adds layers of complexity to Hi-Lo, requiring players to assess each hand through two distinct lenses.

Despite these differences, a skilled Omaha player won't find themselves completely at sea when transitioning to Hi-Lo, or vice versa.

However, Texas Hold’em presents a vastly different landscape compared to Omaha, particularly in terms of starting hands and probabilities. While Hold'em offers 169 unique starting hands, Omaha boasts an astounding 16,432 combinations, immediately highlighting the game's increased complexity.