How to Play Texas Hold’em Poker Online
What Is Texas Hold’em? At its core, Texas Hold’em is a community card game where players combine two “hole cards”
How to Play Omaha Hi-Lo | Omaha Hi-Lo Rules
Omaha Hi-Lo, also called Omaha Eight-or-Better, 8-Lo, or ELO8, is a unique poker variant with a twist that lets players compete for both the highest and lowest hands. This dual objective makes each round a strategic challenge, with the potential to scoop the entire pot by winning both sides.
In this article, we will explore the essentials of Omaha Hi-Lo, from basic rules to advanced strategies, helping you enhance your gameplay and increase your chances of success.
Understanding the Basics of Omaha Hi-Lo
At its core, Omaha Hi-Lo plays similarly to standard Omaha. However, it is distinct for a few reasons that turn the game a little bit on its head.
What Makes Omaha Hi-Lo Different
Omaha Hi-Lo's uniqueness lies in its dual-hand objective and split-pot format. Players must aim for both high and low halves of the pot, using four hole cards and five community cards.
- Dual Objectives: Players compete for both high and low hands, unlike Texas Hold'em, which focuses solely on the high hand.
- Four Hole Cards: Each player receives four hole cards, doubling the possibilities compared to Texas Hold'em.
- Community Cards: Players must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards to form each hand.
- Split Pot: The pot is divided between the best high and qualifying low hand, provided a low hand exists.
| Feature | Omaha Hi-Lo | Regular Omaha | Texas Hold’em |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hole Cards | Four | Four | Two |
| Community Cards | Five | Five | Five |
| Hand Objective | High and Low | High Only | High Only |
| Pot Division | Split if Low Qualifies | Winner Takes All | Winner Takes All |
| Low-Hand Qualification | Five cards 8-or-lower, no pair | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Strategic Complexity | High (dual objective) | Moderate | Moderate |
Basic Rules and Setup
Setting up an Omaha Hi-Lo game involves understanding the dealing process, blinds, and betting rounds.
- Blinds: The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind; the next player posts the big blind.
- Dealing Process: Each player receives four hole cards face down, and five community cards are dealt face up in stages (flop, turn, river).
- Initial Actions: Players may call, raise, or fold, starting with the player to the left of the big blind.
- Betting Rounds: Similar to Texas Hold 'em, the game progresses through four betting rounds, pre-flop, flop, turn, and river.
Hand Formation Rules
Understanding how to form high and low hands is the most significant part of Omaha Hi-Lo. The mechanics of creating both types of hands are easy; just make sure you’re getting it right.
Creating High Hands
High-hand rankings in Omaha Hi-Lo follow standard poker hierarchy. The big requirement is to use exactly two hole cards and three community cards.
- Royal Flush: A K Q J 10, all of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5–6–7–8–9 of hearts).
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of identical rank.
- Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair.
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not consecutive.
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of any suits.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of identical rank.
- Two Pair: Two distinct pairs.
- One Pair: Two cards of identical rank.
- High Card: None of the above; the highest card plays.
Understanding Low Hands
To qualify for a low hand in Omaha Hi-Lo, players must meet specific criteria. The big thing here is the 8-or-Better rule and learning how to evaluate low hands.
- 8-or-Better Rule: All five cards must be ranked eight or lower.
- No Pairs: Duplicate ranks disqualify a hand from the low side.
- Ace Is Low and High: Aces count as the lowest card for low hands (A–2–3–4–5, the "wheel") and as the highest card for high hands.
Hand strength is read from the top down. For example, 7-6-5-4-3 ("seven-six low") beats 8-6-4-3-2 because the highest card (the seven) is lower than the eight in the opponent’s hand.
Pot Splitting Mechanics
Pot splitting is another defining feature of Omaha Hi-Lo. Take both sides and you get to “scoop” the entire thing.
How the Pot Is Split
If at least one qualifying low hand exists, the pot is divided equally between the best high hand and the best low hand.
| Scenario | High-Hand Winner | Low-Hand Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Both Qualify | Player A | Player B |
| No Low Qualifies | Player A (scoops whole pot) | — |
| Low Hand Ties | Player A | Players B & C split low half |
| High Hand Ties | Players A & B split high half | Player C |
| Both Tie | Players A & B split high half | Players C & D split low half |
Scooping the Pot
Scooping means winning both the high and the low halves, thereby collecting 100% of the pot. This happens in specific situations.
- Nut-Potential Hands: Holdings like A-2-3-K double-suited, which can make the nut low and multiple strong high possibilities.
- Non-Counterfeitable Lows: A-2 with backup low cards (e.g., 3-4) protect against board pairings that might counterfeit your low.
- Position Advantage: Acting last allows you to judge whether an opponent is likely drawing to the same side of the pot.
Strategy Tips for Scooping:
- Enter pots with hands that can win both halves.
- Avoid committing large sums with high-only hands unless the board texture blocks low draws.
- Leverage late position to apply pressure when you hold a strong two-way draw.
Basic Strategy Guide
A solid strategy starts with hand selection and positional awareness.
Starting Hand Selection
Choosing the right starting hands is a big part of winning. This table outlines strategies for selecting hands with dual potential and avoiding common pitfalls.
| Starting Hand | Why It’s Strong (or Weak) | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| A-2-3-K (double-suited) | Nut-low draw + nut-flush/straight potential | Raise/3-bet from any spot |
| A-A-K-Q | Premium high hand; almost no low potential | Play aggressively in short-handed pots; tread lightly multi-way |
| 2-3-4-5 | Excellent low + straight potential; flush chances vary | Play, but beware of being quarter-ed if another player also holds A-2 |
| K-K-Q-J | High only; dominated by A-x-x-x and no low equity | Usually fold in full-ring; may open late position short-handed |
Position and Betting Strategy
Position is a powerful weapon in Omaha Hi-Lo. You should use it to your advantage and adjust your betting strategy accordingly.
- Early Position: Tighten your range; you’ll act first post-flop with limited information.
- Middle Position: Mix play; attack when holding strong draws or nut potential.
- Late Position: Open up; steal blinds, and apply pressure on marginal draws.
Concepts and Tools
To elevate your game, leverage advanced tools and avoid common pitfalls.
Tools for Improvement
Several tools can enhance your Omaha Hi-Lo skills. These are some of my favorite resources for refining your strategy.
- ProPokerTools Omaha Hi-Lo Simulator: Calculate equities for complex multi-way spots.
- PokerTracker / Holdem Manager: Import your hand histories and flag leaks in your game.
- Equilab (Omaha Edition): Build and analyze custom ranges for both high and low outcomes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoiding a few of these common mistakes that many beginners make, and you’ll quickly improve your game.
- Overvaluing High Hands: Two-pair that looks strong in Hold’em can be mediocre in Omaha Hi-Lo.
- Ignoring Position: Acting last provides vital information about whether you’re free-rolling or being free-rolled.
- Playing Too Many Hands: Even with four hole cards, disciplined hand selection remains essential.
Quick Tips for Better Play
- Prioritize hands with dual potential.
- Pay attention to blockers that reduce opponents’ nut-draw combinations.
- Review difficult hands after every session to refine your strategy.
You’re All Set to Play Omaha Hi-Lo
Omaha Hi-Lo offers a unique blend of complexity and excitement, challenging players to master both high and low-hand strategies. By understanding the rules, refining hand selection, and leveraging position, you can elevate your play and increase your win rate. Now that you’ve learned the essentials, it’s time to hit the felt, practice, and hone your skills. Embrace the challenge and enjoy playing this dynamic game at Omaha Hi-Lo poker sites.
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FAQs
Yes, Omaha is probably the second-most popular type of poker at the World Series of Poker after Texas Hold’em. There are several Omaha events every year including a mixed Omaha event that has Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, Omaha Hi-Lo and Big O, which is five card Omaha Hi-Lo. The 2023 WSOP had five Omaha Hi-Lo tournaments so check out our WSOP schedule if you want more details.
As we mentioned before there are several different Omaha variants. The most popular is Pot-Limit Omaha. We’ve written a guide just like this one for new players so check it out if you’ve been enjoying Omaha Hi-Lo. If this guide piqued your interest and you want to learn about other kinds of poker variants, head on over to our poker games online page to learn how to play everything from Mississippi Stud to 2-7 Triple Draw.
The internet is chock full of resources when it comes to Omaha Hi-Lo strategy. If you just google any concept like “Omaha Hi-Lo post-flop strategy” you’ll get a ton of articles to scour through. If you want to talk through your hands, then forums like TwoPlusTwo are great places to discuss hands with other players. There are also a ton of great online coaching sites filled with videos and one-on-one coaching to help you improve your game. If you like to sit down with a book instead, then “Scoop! Big O and PLO8: Winning High Low Concepts for the Hold’em Mind” is widely considered to be ones out there.
That’s a question that can cause fights in some poker rooms. Phil Galfond is a legendary Omaha beast, not only has he won a WSOP PLO bracelet, he won the 2018 WSOP Omaha Hi-Lo Championship for $568,000. If you go by overall WSOP cashes, then Scott Clements would be the top performing Omaha Hi-Lo player with $1,109,333 in cashes at the WSOP. Then there’s also the reigning 2021 WSOP Omaha Hi-Lo Champion, Ari Engel who took down the bracelet and more than $300,000.
There are tons of places to play Omaha Hi-Lo. If you’re looking to play live, you could look up your local casino and see if they offer any cash game or tournaments. But if you don’t want to leave your house to try the game out, we have you covered. We’ve spent years reviewing the best online poker sites out there and have nitpicked every single detail to give you a comprehensive breakdown of every site. If you’re looking for the perfect one to play Omaha Hi-Lo, then head on over to our reviews page to find one that works for you.
