Omaha Poker Hand Rankings

Omaha Hold’em is becoming more and more popular amongst poker players because of its ease of play and likeness to Texas Hold’em. The main difference is that it can be played as a high hand wins game, or as a Hi/Lo game. In Hi/Lo, it can be slightly confusing because most people aren’t used to making the worst possible hand as well as the best possible hand. In a Hi/Lo game, there is usually a cut-off that defines the differences between high hands and low hands (generally eight). 

As with Texas Hold’em, there are ten hand rankings. However, unlike in Texas Hold’em, Omaha offers twice the chances to make a hand to at least split the pot when playing Hi/Lo. The winning high hands are listed below:

High Card – this is where a pot is won by having the highest card on the table. This is how most Hi/Lo game low pots are won. If the highest low card is a 5, it will be the best low hand possible.

Pair – a pair is where two cards hold the same value and can be matched up.

Two Pair – is where you have two sets of two cards of the same value that can be used to make a hand.

Three of a Kind – this hand is exactly what it sounds like; three cards of the same value. 

Straight – this is where it can get confusing in Omaha, as a straight doesn’t necessarily mean that you will win the pot. A straight of Ace to 5 will take the low pot, while a straight of 9 to King would take the high pot.

Flush – a flush is five cards of different values but all of the same suit. This is strictly a high hand, as it beats out too many other hands (as with all hands from here on).

Full House – this is a simple hand of a three of a kind and a pair. The higher the three of a kind, the better the hand is and the more it beats out.



Four of a Kind – four of a kind is exactly as it sounds, four cards of the same value.



Straight Flush – A straight flush is where the player has a straight that consists of all the same suit. These are rare, but not impossible to get.



Royal Flush – this is simply a straight flush that culminates in an Ace high. It is also the rarest and most difficult hand to obtain in poker, which is why it's the highest hand possible.