Omaha 8 or Better Strategy – Starting Hands


Omaha Poker is widely regarded as one of the hardest poker games to develop a winning poker strategy for. When you up the ante to Omaha 8 or Better (the Hi/Lo version), the strategy becomes downright scrupulous, starting with the meticulous evaluation of Starting Hands.

To make the transition of implementing a Omaha 8 or Better Starting Hand strategy as easy as possible, we’re going to lay it out for you, plain and simple. Below is a description of all playable Starting Hands in Omaha 8 or Better, and exactly how they should be played depending on your seating position.

Omaha 8 or Better Strategy – Starting Hand Selection

We’re going to start by discussing Starting Hand Selection, and how it is affected by your position. Simply put, the later your position is, the stronger a Starting Hand becomes. The reverse is true of early positions, especially Under the Gun, as even great Starting Hands lose their strength. Therefore, we have adjusted the Omaha 8 or Better Strategy according to each Starting Hand in reference to the player’s position.

Omaha 8 or Better Strategy – Premium Starting Hands

Premium Starting Hands in Omaha 8 or Better are those that have the highest potential of scooping the pot (i.e. wining both the Low and High Hand). These are hands that should be played from any and all positions, though your betting style may vary from early to late position.

  • Pair of Aces + Two cards of 5 or Below, Double Suited (example: As-Ah-2s-3h)
    • Raise/Re-Raise from any position.
  • Pair of Aces + Two cards of 5 or Below, Single Suited (example: As-Ah-3s-5c)
    • Raise/Re-Raise from any position.
  • Pair of Aces + Two cards of 5 or Below (example: A-A-2-4)
    • Raise/Re-Raise from any position.
  • Pair of Aces + 2 (example: A-A-2-7)
    • Call/Raise from early position, Raise/Re-Raise from late position.


These Premium Starting Hands are the absolute best to have in Omaha 8 or Better since they are working 3 ways towards scooping the pot. The Pair of Aces could Set on the Flop and potentially Full House with any Pair on the Board. The low connectors (Ace through 5) is a strong Straight Draw. A-2, A-3 and A-4 are great starters for a wining Low hand.

Omaha 8 or Better Strategy – Great Starting Hands

Next we’ll list the Omaha 8 or Better Starting Hands that are considered Great, but not Premium. These are hands that every player should move on with, regardless of position, though the betting strategy may vary greatly.

  • Pair of Aces + 3 (example: A-A-3-9)
    • Bet/Call from early position, Call/Raise from late position.
  • A-2 + High Pair (example: A-2-K-K)
    • Bet/Call from early position, Call/Raise from late position.
  • 2 Low Cards + High Connectors, Double Suited (example: 2s-3s-Qd-Kd)
    • Bet/Call from early position, Call/Raise from late position.
  • Pair of Aces, Double Suited (example: Ah-Ac-7h-Qc)
    • Call from early position, Call/Raise from late position.
  • 2-3 + High Pair (example: 2-3-Q-Q)
    • Bet/Call from any position – Fold if no Ace or Queen on the Flop.


Omaha 8 or Better Strategy – Good Starting Hands

Good Starting Hands in Omaha 8 or Better are the ones that have the potential to win the High or Low hand, but won’t scoop the pot. Whether you choose to play these hands is entirely up to you. The objective of a good Omaha 8 or Better Strategy is generally to scoop the pot, not win half. However, when you hold the Nuts after the Flop for either hand, you’re in good shape.

High Hands

  • Pair of Aces Double Suited (example: As-Ah-7s-Qh)
    • Check/Call from early position, Bet/Call from late position.
  • Pair of Aces + High Connectors (example: A-A-J-Q)
    • Check/Call from early position, Bet/Call from late position.
  • High Pair Double Suited (example: Ks-Kh-Js-5h)
    • Check/Call from early position, Bet/Call from late position.
  • High Double Pair (example: K-K-Q-Q)
    • Check/Call from early position, Bet/Call from late position.
  • Double Suited Connectors (example: 5s-6s-8h-10h)
    • Check/Fold from early position, Bet/Call from late position.


Low Hands

  • Four cards ranking Ace through 8, no Pairs
    • Check/Call from early position, Bet/Call from late position. Fold if no Ace on the Flop.
  • Three cards ranking Ace through 8, no Pairs
    • Check/Fold from any position. Fold if no Ace on the Flop.