How to Play Omaha Eights or Better/ Omaha Hi-Lo
Omaha Hi-Lo Basics
Omaha Hi-Lo is a variation of standard Omaha in which the pot is split between the highest and the lowest hand. The game begins the same, with 4 cards being dealt face down to each player followed by a 3 card flop, the turn, and then the river, making 5 community cards on the board that any player can use. As in standard Omaha, each player must use two cards from their hand and 3 cards from the community. The player can, however, use two separate cards to make their high hand and their low hand. They can also use the same two cards for both hands.
Omaha Hi-Lo is a variation of standard Omaha in which the pot is split between the highest and the lowest hand. The game begins the same, with 4 cards being dealt face down to each player followed by a 3 card flop, the turn, and then the river, making 5 community cards on the board that any player can use. As in standard Omaha, each player must use two cards from their hand and 3 cards from the community. The player can, however, use two separate cards to make their high hand and their low hand. They can also use the same two cards for both hands.
Who Wins in Omaha Eights or Better?
The highest hand is the same hand that would win in a standard game of Omaha and follows the hand ranking chart provided on this website. The low hand, is the hand with the five lowest non-pairing cards. In standard Hi-Lo these can be any 5 non pairing cards. In Eights or Better, which I personally prefer to standard Hi-Lo, all 5 cards must be 8 or lower and non pairing. In the event that two players have similar low hands, the player who has the lower highest card wins. An easy way to figure this out is to start from both players highest card and go down in order. The first player with a lower card in the order is the winner. For example: One player has a hand of A 2 3 7 8 and the other player has a hand of 2 3 5 6 8. The player with 2 3 5 6 8 is the winner of the low hand because starting from the 8, the next lowest card for the other player is 7 which is higher than 6. The player with the best high hand will win half the pot and the player with the best low hand will win the other half of the pot.
The highest hand is the same hand that would win in a standard game of Omaha and follows the hand ranking chart provided on this website. The low hand, is the hand with the five lowest non-pairing cards. In standard Hi-Lo these can be any 5 non pairing cards. In Eights or Better, which I personally prefer to standard Hi-Lo, all 5 cards must be 8 or lower and non pairing. In the event that two players have similar low hands, the player who has the lower highest card wins. An easy way to figure this out is to start from both players highest card and go down in order. The first player with a lower card in the order is the winner. For example: One player has a hand of A 2 3 7 8 and the other player has a hand of 2 3 5 6 8. The player with 2 3 5 6 8 is the winner of the low hand because starting from the 8, the next lowest card for the other player is 7 which is higher than 6. The player with the best high hand will win half the pot and the player with the best low hand will win the other half of the pot.
What happens if there is no low hand in Omaha Hi-Lo?
Because the cards cannot be paired, there are times when there is no low hand and the entire pot is won by the player with the best high hand. This happens more often when playing Eights or Better because in this game, to make a low hand, a player must have five cards 8 or lower that are not pairing. Following the rules of Omaha, there must be at least 3 unpaired cards 8 or lower on the board for there to be a possible low hand and a player must have two hole cards that are 8 or lower and not pairing with the 3 low cards on the board. If the flop is dealt and all the cards on the flop are higher than 8, there will not be any low hand in the game. It should also be noted that flushes and straights do not weaken a low hand. The best low hand is A 2 3 4 5, which are the 5 lowest unpaired cards you can have. It is also a straight, but that does not hurt the low hand.
Because the cards cannot be paired, there are times when there is no low hand and the entire pot is won by the player with the best high hand. This happens more often when playing Eights or Better because in this game, to make a low hand, a player must have five cards 8 or lower that are not pairing. Following the rules of Omaha, there must be at least 3 unpaired cards 8 or lower on the board for there to be a possible low hand and a player must have two hole cards that are 8 or lower and not pairing with the 3 low cards on the board. If the flop is dealt and all the cards on the flop are higher than 8, there will not be any low hand in the game. It should also be noted that flushes and straights do not weaken a low hand. The best low hand is A 2 3 4 5, which are the 5 lowest unpaired cards you can have. It is also a straight, but that does not hurt the low hand.
Things to Consider with Hole Cards
When playing Omaha Hi-Lo or Eights or better, the dynamic of good hole cards changes again. For the purposes of this tutorial, I will deal strictly with Eights or Better because it is more common than standard Hi-Lo and in my opinion is a superior game. Now, what are good hole cards when playing Eights or Better? Generally, it is more important to be able to make a good high hand than it is to make a good low hand. This is because, in every hand, the high hand will always take at least half the pot, and often when there is no low hand, the whole pot. In general, double suited hole cards, connecting hole cards, and double paired hole cards are always good.
When playing Omaha Hi-Lo or Eights or better, the dynamic of good hole cards changes again. For the purposes of this tutorial, I will deal strictly with Eights or Better because it is more common than standard Hi-Lo and in my opinion is a superior game. Now, what are good hole cards when playing Eights or Better? Generally, it is more important to be able to make a good high hand than it is to make a good low hand. This is because, in every hand, the high hand will always take at least half the pot, and often when there is no low hand, the whole pot. In general, double suited hole cards, connecting hole cards, and double paired hole cards are always good.
Making a good low hand in Eights or Better
However, in Eights or Better, you also want to consider your chances of making a good low hand. With this in mind, an Ace is the best possible card to have because it is the highest and lowest card in the deck. The best two cards to have for this pre-flop are an Ace and a Two. In this situation, if there is a low hand, and you can use your Ace and Two without pairing them, you are going to win the low hand and take at least half of the pot. If you do happen to pair your Ace then you are on your way to making a good high hand. Having four unpaired low cards is also worth playing. In the event that you do hit a good low hand, are confident in it, then you can bluff freely and try to take the whole pot knowing that you will at least get your chips back if a player calls with a good high hand and takes half the pot.
However, in Eights or Better, you also want to consider your chances of making a good low hand. With this in mind, an Ace is the best possible card to have because it is the highest and lowest card in the deck. The best two cards to have for this pre-flop are an Ace and a Two. In this situation, if there is a low hand, and you can use your Ace and Two without pairing them, you are going to win the low hand and take at least half of the pot. If you do happen to pair your Ace then you are on your way to making a good high hand. Having four unpaired low cards is also worth playing. In the event that you do hit a good low hand, are confident in it, then you can bluff freely and try to take the whole pot knowing that you will at least get your chips back if a player calls with a good high hand and takes half the pot.
Bluffing in 8's or Better
Here are a few thoughts from my experience playing Eights or Better and some other interesting facts. First, lets talk about bluffing. In Eights or Better, bluffing becomes safer and more effective in certain situations. When you know that you have the nuts for the either the low hand or high hand, it's a good strategy to bet big and try to bluff the other player out so that you can take the whole pot rather than splitting it. Often times, I've learned after a hand that the other player did have a better high hand, or better low hand, but they weren't confident and not willing to call a large bet.
Here are a few thoughts from my experience playing Eights or Better and some other interesting facts. First, lets talk about bluffing. In Eights or Better, bluffing becomes safer and more effective in certain situations. When you know that you have the nuts for the either the low hand or high hand, it's a good strategy to bet big and try to bluff the other player out so that you can take the whole pot rather than splitting it. Often times, I've learned after a hand that the other player did have a better high hand, or better low hand, but they weren't confident and not willing to call a large bet.
What's the Best Hand in Eights or Better?
The best hand in Eights or Better is known as The Wheel. The Wheel is A 2 3 4 5. This is the absolute lowest hand possible, guaranteeing you the low half of the pot and at the same time, making a straight to give you a good shot at taking the high pot. Even better than this, but extremely rare, is The Steel Wheel which is a straight flush of A 2 3 4 5 giving you the best low hand, and almost definitely the best high hand. If you get this hand and don't win the entire pot, be sure to punch the dealer in the face at least once. You should probably tip the table over and storm out of the room as well.
The best hand in Eights or Better is known as The Wheel. The Wheel is A 2 3 4 5. This is the absolute lowest hand possible, guaranteeing you the low half of the pot and at the same time, making a straight to give you a good shot at taking the high pot. Even better than this, but extremely rare, is The Steel Wheel which is a straight flush of A 2 3 4 5 giving you the best low hand, and almost definitely the best high hand. If you get this hand and don't win the entire pot, be sure to punch the dealer in the face at least once. You should probably tip the table over and storm out of the room as well.
