6-Card Omaha 8 Rules - Poker Game Database

Overview

6-Card Omaha 8 combines the six-hole-card format with a split pot. The high half is won by the best hand (using exactly 2 hole cards + 3 community cards). The low half requires a player to make five unique ranks all 8 or lower using exactly 2 hole cards + 3 community cards — the lowest such hand wins. If no player qualifies for low, the high hand wins the whole pot. A player may use different two-card combinations for their high and low hands.

Key Rules

IMPORTANT: Players must use EXACTLY 2 hole cards + EXACTLY 3 community cards for both their high hand and their low hand. The same two cards or different two cards may be used for each.

Split Pot

Half the pot goes to the best HIGH hand
Half the pot goes to the best qualifying LOW hand
If no player qualifies for low, the high hand wins the entire pot
The same player can win both halves

Low Hand Qualification (8 Qualifier)

To qualify for low, a player must make five unique ranks all 8 or lower using exactly 2 hole cards + 3 community cards. Aces count as low. Straights and flushes do not count against a low hand.

Best Low Hand

A-2-3-4-5 (the "wheel") is the best possible low hand. In lowball ranking, lower is better — compare from highest card down.

Six-Card Advantage

With six hole cards and fifteen two-card combinations, 6-Card Omaha 8 gives players even more opportunities than the five-card version to hold both a low-qualifying pair and a high-hand pair simultaneously.

Number of Players

2–7 players

Strategy Tips

A♣ 2♦ or A 2 in any suit is the premium low-hand pair
With fifteen combinations, look for hands that threaten both high and low simultaneously
If the board bricks (runs all high), the entire pot goes to the high winner
Lowball comparison: the hand with the lowest highest card wins; compare from top down

6-CARD OMAHA 8