How to Play Omaha Hi-Lo (O8) | Simple Guide
Omaha Hi-Lo (often written as O8 or Omaha 8-or-better) is a split-pot version of Omaha. Half the pot goes to the best high hand, and half goes to the best qualifying low hand. You still receive four hole cards, and at showdown you must use exactly 2 hole cards together with exactly 3 board cards to make each of your high and low hands. If you are new to regular Omaha first, see our How to Play Omaha Poker guide.
What Is Omaha Hi-Lo?
Omaha Hi-Lo is a community-card poker game with four hole cards per player and five shared board cards (flop, turn, river). The twist is that the pot is split in two: one half for the best high hand (just like normal Omaha) and one half for the best low hand — if a low qualifies.
- Hole cards: You get 4 private cards.
- Must use 2+3: At showdown, use exactly 2 hole cards and 3 board cards for high, and the same rule for low.
- Low qualifier (8-or-better): To win low, you need five different ranks all 8 or lower. Pairs don’t count for low.
- Ace is low and high: A can be the lowest card in low, and the highest card in high straights/flushes.
- Split pot: High gets half, qualifying low gets half. If no low qualifies, high wins the entire pot.
Betting Structure (PLO8)
Most live and online games are Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (PLO8). The maximum raise is the size of the pot after your call.
Example: Pot is $12. Villain bets $12. If you call, pot becomes $36. You may then raise up to $36 more (your total would be $48).
| Round | Action |
|---|---|
| Preflop | 4 hole cards to each player. Action starts left of the big blind: fold, call, raise (up to pot). |
| Flop | Deal 3 community cards face up. New betting round. |
| Turn | Deal 1 more community card. New betting round. |
| River | Deal final community card. Final betting, then showdown. |
How the Low Works (8-or-Better)
A low hand is any five different ranks 8 or lower. Straights and flushes do not hurt your low. Aces count low (A=1). The best possible low is A-2-3-4-5 (called the “wheel”). You must still follow the 2+3 rule: use exactly two of your own hole cards and exactly three from the board to make your low.
| Low Hand | Nickname | Beats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-2-3-4-5 | Wheel | All other lows | Best low (and a straight for high). |
| A-2-3-4-6 | Six-low | A-2-3-5-7 etc. | Compare highest card first: 6-low beats 7-low. |
| A-3-4-6-8 | Eight-low | Qualifies, but weak | Eight-lows often get “quartered”. |
| 2-3-4-5-8 | Eight-low | Beats 2-3-4-6-8 | Compare from highest card downward. |
| A-2-2-5-8 | — | — | Not a low (pairs don’t count for low). |
How to Play — Step by Step
- Post blinds & deal: Small and big blind go in. Each player receives four hole cards.
- Preflop: Choose hands that can win both ways (high and low). Premium starters include A-2 with more low/straight/flush potential (e.g., A-2-3-K double-suited).
- Flop: Evaluate high (sets, straights, flushes) and low draws (A-2-x-x on 7-4-K, etc.). Aim for “nut-nut” draws (nut low + nut high).
- Turn: Pressure with strong nut draws and made hands. Beware of being quartered (only winning half of the low half) — it kills profit.
- River: Remember: you must use exactly 2 hole + 3 board cards for high and low. If no low qualifies (no five unique ranks 8 or lower on board+your cards), the high hand scoops the entire pot.
Starting Hands (What to Play)
- A-2-x-x is king. Even better with backup low like A-2-3-x.
- Double-suited hands are valuable (two flush possibilities).
- High potential + low potential: A-2-K-Q ds, A-2-3-4, A-3-4-5, A-2-J-T ds.
- Aces without low (e.g., A-A-K-K rainbow) are often overrated in O8.
Key Concepts
- Scooping: Win both high and low. This is where your profit comes from.
- Nuts: Play towards the nut low and nut high; second-best hands lose money.
- Quartered: Sharing the low half while losing high → you get only 1/4 of the pot (or worse).
- Freeroll: When you share the same low as an opponent but you alone are drawing to the nut high.
Common Mistakes
- Calling down with bare low (only low, no high chance) on dangerous boards.
- Overplaying one-way hands (only high or only low) from early position.
- Ignoring the 2+3 rule — you must always use exactly two hole cards for each side.
- Chasing non-nut draws; reverse-implied odds are brutal in split-pot games.
Example Hands (High + Low Decisions)
Example 1 — Premium low with high potential: You hold A♦ 2♦ 3♣ K♣. Flop comes 5♦ 9♦ Q♠. You have a nut-low draw (A-2 with 3), plus the nut-flush draw in diamonds. You can make the wheel for low (A-2-3-4-5) and a diamond flush for high — a classic “scoop” setup. Compare with regular Omaha here: How to Play Omaha Poker.
Example 2 — Counterfeiting risk: You hold A♠ 2♣ 9♥ 9♦. Board runs 8♥ 4♣ Q♦ | 2♦ | K♣. Your A-2 low gets counterfeited when the turn pairs your deuce; now any player with A-3 makes a better low using A-3 + board. Backups like A-2-3 help avoid this.
Example 3 — Quarter trap: You and another player both show A-2 for the nut low on a final board that allows an 8-low. If the opponent wins high with a set or flush, you only get a quarter of the pot. If there was heavy betting, your actual return can be tiny after rake. Don’t chase bare nut low if you’re likely to be quartered.
High Hand Rankings (Same as Hold’em)
For the high half, normal hand rankings apply.
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Position & Sizing
- Play more hands in late position; you’ll control pot size and see opponents’ intentions.
- In PLO8, pot-sized bets apply the most pressure when you have nut equity on both halves.
- Value bet thinly when you can scoop; check more when you only win one side.
Table Selection
- Prefer loose tables where people chase weak lows and second-best highs.
- Deep stacks reward hands that can make the nuts both ways.
- Avoid games where everyone plays tight nut-only ranges — edges shrink fast.
Beginner Game Plan
- Start with A-2 heavy hands, especially double-suited or with straight potential.
- Fold one-way trash. Aim for scoop potential or nut-nut draws.
- Count “clean outs” to the nuts; discount outs that make you second-best.
Keep Learning
Compare Omaha Hi-Lo to regular Omaha and Hold’em, or refresh the basics:
Omaha Hi-Lo (O8) — FAQ
What does “8-or-better” mean?
It means the low hand must be five different ranks 8 or below (A counts as 1). If no qualifying low exists, the high hand wins the whole pot.
Do straights or flushes ruin my low?
No. In O8, straights and flushes do not count against your low. Only the ranks matter (and they must be different).
Can I use different two hole cards for high and low?
Yes. You can use any two of your four hole cards for high, and any two for low. Each side must still be exactly 2 from your hand + 3 from the board.
What is getting “quartered”?
When you tie for the low half but lose the high half, you only receive a quarter of the overall pot (minus rake). That’s why bare nut low can be unprofitable.
What is a “freeroll” in O8?
When you and an opponent share the same low but you alone have strong high draws — you’re free-rolling to scoop.