Poker Strategy Key Differences between Pot-Limit Omaha Hi and Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo URL has been copied successfully! Nuances between the two versions mean you have to be ready to adjust your strategy Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) and Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (PLO8) are two popular variations of Omaha poker, each with its own set of rules and strategies. While both games share similarities, there are key differences that distinguish them from each other. One of the most significant differences between PLO and PLO8 is the way in which the pot is awarded at showdown. In PLO, the entire pot is awarded to the player with the best high hand. However, in PLO8, the pot is split between the player with the best high hand and the player with the best qualifying low hand (if one exists). This adds an extra layer of complexity to PLO8, as players must consider not only how to make the best high hand, but also how to potentially scoop the pot by making both the best high and low hands simultaneously. Another important distinction between the two games is the hand rankings. In PLO, players must use exactly two of their hole cards in combination with three community cards to make the best five-card hand. However, in PLO8, players can use any combination of two hole cards and three community cards to make both their high and low hands. This means that players have more flexibility in PLO8 when it comes to forming their hands, as they can choose from a wider range of cards to make the best possible hand. Additionally, the presence of the low hand component in PLO8 significantly impacts the types of starting hands that are playable. Hands that contain low cards and the potential to make a low hand, such as A-2-x-x or 2-3-x-x, gain value in PLO8, whereas they are often considered weaker in PLO. This forces players to adjust their starting hand selection and strategy accordingly, as they must now consider the possibility of both high and low hands when evaluating the strength of their holdings.