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Omaha family

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better poker rules

4 Cards / High + 8-or-Better Low

Hole cards
4
Board
1 community board
Betting
Pot-Limit
Players
2-7 players
Pot
Split pot
Family
Omaha family

What is Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better?

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better deals four private cards and splits each pot between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand.

Both halves use exactly two hole cards and three board cards, which may be different combinations. A low needs five distinct ranks of 8 or below, with the Ace low and straights and flushes ignored; without a qualifying low the high hand takes the whole pot.

Pot-Limit, 2-7 players; the classic split-pot game and the foundation for several SophiesPick variants.

Starting cards

4 private cards. Pot-Limit betting.

How to play

  1. Preflop betting.
  2. Deal the flop (3 community cards), then flop betting.
  3. Deal the turn (1 card), then turn betting.
  4. Deal the river (1 card), then river betting and showdown.

Showdown

Use EXACTLY 2 hole cards + EXACTLY 3 community cards from the evaluated board. You cannot play the board or use 1, 3, or 4 hole cards.

High / low

Each half uses exactly 2 hole cards and 3 board cards, which may differ. Low needs five distinct ranks of 8 or below; Ace is low, straights and flushes do not matter. Wheel is best.

Each eligible pot splits high/low. Without a qualifying low that pot goes entirely to high. Ties split each half; a player can scoop both. High receives the odd split chip; tied winners receive remainder chips clockwise from the dealer.

Hand rankings in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

High Hand

  1. Royal Flush
  2. Straight Flush
  3. Four of a Kind
  4. Full House
  5. Flush
  6. Straight
  7. Three of a Kind
  8. Two Pair
  9. One Pair
  10. High Card

Royal Flush is the highest possible Ace-high Straight Flush.

Low Hand

Best low: A-2-3-4-5. Qualify with five different ranks, all 8 or lower. Ace plays low; straights and flushes do not hurt the low.

Compare highest cards first: lower wins, then compare the next-highest card until a difference. Suits never break ties.

Both high and low use exactly 2 hole cards + exactly 3 board cards. High and low may use different hole-card combinations. If no qualifying low exists, high wins the entire pot.

Common mistakes

  • Playing the board or three hole cards: each half uses exactly two hole cards plus exactly three board cards.
  • Claiming a low with a 9 or a paired rank: a qualifying low needs five distinct ranks of 8 or below.
  • Worrying about straights and flushes in the low: they do not count against the low half.
  • Assuming every pot splits: with no qualifying low the entire pot goes to the high hand.

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better is the only published game in its family. See how it lines up against every other game in the poker variants comparison table.

Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better FAQ

What qualifies as a low in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better?

Five distinct ranks all 8 or lower, using exactly two hole cards and three board cards. The Ace plays low and straights or flushes do not hurt. A-2-3-4-5 is the best low.

Can I use different hole cards for high and low?

Yes. Each half uses exactly two hole cards plus three board cards, and the two combinations may differ.

Who gets the odd chip when the pot splits?

The high hand receives the odd chip; tied winners receive remainder chips clockwise from the dealer.