Omaha Hi-Lo rules (Omaha Eight or Better)

Omaha Hi-Lo (also called Omaha Eight or Better or O8) is Omaha where the pot is split in half: one half for the best high hand and one half for the best low hand. A low hand must have five different cards of 8 or lower (aces count low). If no low qualifies, the high hand wins the whole pot.

Basic rules

Each player gets four hole cards; there are five community cards, like in Omaha.
For each half, you must use exactly two of your hole cards and three from the board. You can use different cards for high and low.
Usually played pot-limit (PLO8) or fixed-limit (as in HORSE).

How low hands work

Straights and flushes don’t count against a low: 5-4-3-2-A is the best possible low (the “wheel”) and can also be a straight for high.
Lows are compared from the highest card down: 7-5-4-2-A beats 7-6-3-2-A.
A low is only possible if the board has at least three different cards 8 or lower.

Scoop and quarter

Scoop: you win both high and low, the whole pot. That’s the goal.
Quartered: you tie for one half with another player and get only a quarter of the pot.

Good starting hands

Hands with A-2, especially A-2-3-x or A-2-K-K, ideally suited to the ace.
Hands that can win both ways.
Avoid hands with cards like 9, 10, J that are too high for low and too weak for high (“middle cards”).

Tips

Play for the scoop, not just half the pot.
Be careful with an A-2 low when the board has many low cards: you can be quartered by another A-2.
Count the board: no three low cards = no low, so high hands win everything.

See PLO starting hands and side pots and split pots.

FAQ

What is Omaha Hi-Lo?

Omaha where the pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand.

What does eight or better mean?

A low hand must have five different cards of 8 or lower to win the low half.

What is the best low hand in Omaha Hi-Lo?

A-2-3-4-5, called the wheel.

What does scoop mean in poker?

Winning both the high and the low half of a split pot.