The high-low split pot version of Omaha is a fun and exciting game, which we will refer to as Omaha/8. It is typically played as a fixed-limit game, but the pot-limit variety (known by the abbreviation PLO/8) is also popular, particularly online. The format, betting structure, and requirement to use two cards from your initial four hole cards, in conjunction with three cards from the board, is all the same as Omaha high but coupled with the addition of the best high and best low hands splitting the pot.

In our lesson on how to play Omaha we outlined that one major difference between Omaha and hold’em was the number of potential hands vying for the pot. In Omaha/8 that number remains constant as each hand still has six possibilities but now some of them are vying for the low end and others for the high. What this translates to is an action packed game with numerous bets and raises and large pots.

The object of Omaha 8 is to make the best five-card high hand, and/or best five-card low hand, using exactly two hole cards and three community cards. Different combinations of cards can be used by a player to make separate high and low hands. It is possible for a player to win both the high and low portions of the pot-known as 'scooping'. If there is no qualifying low hand (five cards below 8), the best high hand will scoop the. The rules of Omaha hi-lo is usually played with a 'qualifier' for the low hand, meaning all of the cards making up a low hand have to be ranked eight or lower. That's where the 'split-8-or-better'. The best high hand wins half of the pot, and the best low hand wins the other half of the pot. The low hand must 'qualify' with at least five cards below 8 in order to win half of the pot. This game uses the A-to-5 lowball rankings for low hands, in which straights and flushes do not count against your hand.

Omaha/8 Showdown Rules

Omaha/8 is a split pot game, which means that unless someone scoops the pot it will be split. There are two ways to scoop the entire pot. The first is to have both the best high and low hands. The other way is to possess the best high hand when no hand qualifies for the low.

The High Hand

The high hand in Omaha/8 is the identical to a winning hand in Omaha high. If there is no qualified low hand then the best high hand will win the pot.

Qualifying Low Hand

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The rules for a qualifying low hand are as follows:

• Players may use any five cards in their hand for the low
• A low hand is five unpaired cards, no higher than an eight
• Aces are low for the low hand (and high for the high hand)
• Flushes and straights do not negatively impact the low hand

How To Play Hi Lo Poker

Ranking Low Hands

Low hands in Omaha/8 are ranked ‘top down’, from the highest card in the hand. For example is lower than . This is an example of a “7 low” versus an “8 low”.

If the highest card is equal in rank then the next highest card is used to determined the lowest hand. This means that is lower than because the second highest card among the five is lower. If the second highest card was the same then it would go to the third, fourth, and fifth card respectively. If players share the same low cards then the low half of the pot is split.

The best possible low hand in Omaha/8 is A-2-3-4-5, known as a ‘wheel’. Remember that low hands that are straights and flushes do not disqualify it from being low but, in fact, make it a two way hand and a candidate to scoop. While a Royal flush and a five high straight, called a wheel, would represent the best high and best low hands, the hand you really want at the showdown is a five high straight flush to scoop the pot with the best high and low hands.

Omaha/8 Hand Examples

The basic rules are the same as Omaha high, in that you must use two of your hole cards with three on the board.

In the above example a low hand is not possible because the board doesn’t contain three cards that are eight or lower. Only the best high hand will win. The nuts for this board would be someone holding Jack-Queen for the straight. With (which is an excellent starting hand in Omaha/8) you would use along with the on the board to make a high-hand of one pair.

Here is a hand that would qualify for both the high and the low:

In the above example the board contains three card no higher than an eight; the . The hole cards in this example are very strong. In Omaha/8 you can use any two of your cards for the low and any two for the high-hand. The can be used for the nut high hand (flush) and can be used for the nut low ( A-2-3-7-8). This is a prime candidate for scooping the pot.

If you’re unsure how to work out low hands, which can be confusing at first, then don’t worry. The key is to count backwards from the highest low card first. As mentioned, the best low hand is A-2-3-4-5 which is a five-low hand, which when counting backwards would obviously be 5-4-3-2-A. The next best low hand would be a six-low of 6-4-3-2-A, followed by 6-5-3-2-A, then 6-5-4-2-A, then 6-5-4-3-A and so on. The highest card is counted first and if there’s a tie the next highest low card is counted.

The split pot rule makes it a very different game to Omaha-high. But it’s important to stress that Omaha/8 is not a game of splits. Whilst the best high hand will win half the pot and the best low hand will win the other half; scooping the entire pot is the true object of this poker game.

This game seems to have polarized poker fans in so far as they either love it or have a disdain for it. I like to call those who love it Omaholics and you should be careful, for if you are just getting started in this addictive form of poker, you may well join their ranks.

By Tom 'TIME' Leonard

Learn To Play Poker Beginner

Tom has been writing about poker since 1994 and has played across the USA for over 40 years, playing every game in almost every card room in Atlantic City, California and Las Vegas.

After learning 5-Card Draw Poker, players can enjoy High Low Chicago Poker. If you already know the rules for 7-Card Stud poker, you can pick up the High Low Chicago Poker Rules much faster. The main difference between Seven Card and High Low Chicago Poker Rules is towards the end. Instead of just one player winning the whole pot, it can split in half.

Learn How To Play High Low Poker

At showdown time, whoever has the highest spade in the hole gets the other half. A face-up spade doesn’t count. If someone already shows their Ace of Spades, you can win half the pot with a king of spades in the hole.

Understanding the High Low Chicago Poker Rules is easy. You get the cards like a seven-card stud. There are two facedown cards, four face-up cards, and a final facedown card. You have five rounds of betting: one after every face-up card and a last round after the final card.

If the game’s just starting, according to High Low Chicago Poker Rules, the one with the lowest face-up card will make the bring-in bet. Before the game begins, everyone needs to agree on a fixed limit or a no-limit. If it’s no limit, you usually have to call another limited amount.

Then the betting round starts. Everyone has a choice to call, raise or fold. Whoever has the highest hand showing starts the betting round. Then the dealer will give every player their fifth face-up card. When the final betting round ends, everyone gets one last face up card.

How To Play High Low Poker

After the last betting round, everyone needs to agree on three things:

• Go for the highest spade in the hole
• Highest hand
• Both

Finally, if there’s more than one player left it’s time for the showdown. Your goal in the game is to get the best 5-card combo. If it’s High Chicago, the winner splits the pot with whoever has the highest spade in the hole.

High Low Card Game Directions

Despite the name of Low Chicago, the High Low Chicago Poker Rules don’t change. You still need the highest hand to win and the lowest hidden spade. In this case, the ace counts as a high card. If someone wants to claim both wins, they need the highest hand and either the highest or lowest hidden spade. If no one has a hidden spade, then the highest hand wins the whole pot.

When you understand the basics of the game and the High Low Chicago Poker Rules, you can practice and get the winning pot in no time. Just remember to share if another Bitcoin poker player has a hidden spade.