Omaha Hi-Lo Made Simple: 8 Steps to Mastery

Ready for the ups and downs of Omaha Hi-Lo? Pull up a seat and enjoy the thrilling world of Omaha Hi-Lo poker (8 or Better) and get ready to pull in the big pots with this 8-step masterclass. Even though Omaha Hi-Lo is played in fixed limit or pot limit formats, it's brimming with intense action and astonishingly large pots.

If you’ve played Texas Holdem, Omaha Hi-Lo poker will feel familiar with only a few small changes. Omaha Hi-Lo features four rounds of betting in both fixed and pot limit formats. The big difference is that the pot is split 50/50 at showdown, with the lowest hand and the highest hand each receiving an equal share. With two ways to win and four starting hole cards (instead of the usual two), players have countless opportunities to craft winning Omaha Hi-Lo hands and scoop up massive pots. This dynamic is what makes Omaha Hi-Lo such an exhilarating game.

We can see you’re interested, so how about having a look at Mr Green’s simple 8-step guide to Omaha Hi-Lo rules below, and you'll be collecting pots like a pro in no time!

STEP 1: Positions at the Table in Fixed and Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo

At a typical 9-max Omaha Hi-Lo table, the positions mirror those in Texas Hold'em. You'll encounter two mandatory bets, the Small Blind and the Big Blind, and the game is usually played in either pot limit or fixed limit formats. In pot limit games, the pots can grow to be substantial. Even though the player seated immediately to the left of the Big Blind acts first pre-flop, they might face an all-in by the time the action circles back around.

Mr Green Pro Tip: Position is crucial when deciding which hands to play, just like in Hold'em poker.

Step 2: Omaha Hi-Lo Hand Rankings

In Omaha Hi-Lo, just like in Hold'em, a Royal Flush is the highest-ranking high hand. However, since Omaha Hi-Lo is a split-pot game, you must also consider the low hand. The low hand is ranked using the eight lowest cards in the deck (Ace through Eight). The best possible low hand is 5-4-3-2-A. You must use exactly two of your four starting cards in combination with any three community cards, but you can use different cards for the high and low hands.

Mr Green Pro Tip: To maximize your chances of winning, aim to play hands like A-A-2-3 double-suited. This is considered the strongest starting hand in Omaha Hi-Lo strategy.

STEP 3: Pre-Flop Action in Omaha Hi-Lo

The action begins with the player directly to the left of the Big Blind, known as the Under-the-Gun (UTG) player. They have three options: fold (not play the hand), call (match the Big Blind), or raise (increase the bet). In Omaha Hi-Lo, the pre-flop bet amount is set at the lower of the two table limit stakes. The action proceeds clockwise, giving each player a chance to act. If no one raises, the Big Blind has the option to check.

Mr Green Pro Tip: Select starting hands that have the potential to make both strong low and high hands in this split-pot game, maximizing your chance to win the entire pot.

STEP 4: Post-Flop Action in Omaha Hi-Lo

Once the pre-flop betting concludes, the first three community cards, known as the Flop, are dealt. All active players can use these cards to improve their hands. Betting during this round is still fixed at the lower limit stake, with the maximum raise set at either four times the Big Blind (fixed limit) or the current pot size (pot limit). The first active player to the left of the button initiates the second betting round, and action continues clockwise until every player has had the opportunity to act.

Mr Green Pro Tip: In Omaha Hi-Lo, the Ace is versatile and can be used to form both high and low hands.

STEP 5: Post-Turn Action in Omaha Hi-Lo

The next phase in Omaha Hi-Lo involves dealing the fourth community card, known as the Turn. This card is available for use by all active players. At this stage, the betting limit increases to the higher stake, typically double the lower stake. As in previous rounds, players can check, bet, call (if there's a bet), raise (if there's a bet), or fold.

Mr Green Pro Tip: With betting stakes doubled on the Turn, it's a prime opportunity to build a big pot with a raise, provided you have a strong hand.

STEP 6: Post-River Action in Omaha Hi-Lo

The River is the final community card, available for all remaining players to complete their hands. At this stage, players have the same options as on the Flop and Turn: they can check, bet, call (if there’s been a bet), raise (if there’s been a bet), or fold, depending on the action so far.

Mr Green Pro Trivia: The "8 or Better" in Omaha Hi-Lo refers to the requirement for a qualifying low hand to have five distinct cards ranked Eight or lower—hence, 8 or better!

STEP 7: Winning the pot

The Showdown is the thrilling finale of an Omaha Hi-Lo hand, happening when more than one player remains in the game. At this stage, each remaining player must use any 2 of their 4 hole cards combined with any 3 of the 5 community cards to create both a high hand and a low hand. The pot is split equally between the best high hand and the best low hand.

Mr Green Pro Tip: To scoop the entire pot and claim 100% of the winnings, you need to have the best hands for both high and low at the Showdown.

STEP 8: Omaha Hi-Lo or Texas Hold'em

If Texas Hold'em is the youthful, exuberant star of poker, then Omaha Hi-Lo is the lively and adventurous relative who spices things up. Think of it as the quirky aunt or uncle who would sneak you chocolates and treats when your parents weren’t around. In the end, the choice is yours. But our tip is, why choose when you can play both at your fingertips with Mr Green’s Poker App!

What Sets Omaha Hi-Lo Apart: Key Differences

Here’s why Omaha Hi-Lo stands out:

• Four Hole Cards: You’re dealt 4 cards instead of 2 (yes, it’s as wild as it sounds!).
• Hand Construction: Even with 4 hole cards, you must use exactly 2 to form your hand.
• No "Playing the Board": You can't rely on the community cards alone—you MUST use 2 of your 4 hole cards.
• Two Ways to Win: You can win with either a high hand, a low hand, or both.
• Distinct Player Style: Omaha Hi-Lo players often bring a more unpredictable edge compared to their No Limit Hold'em counterparts (but that’s just our observation!).