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Big O poker, known as Big Omaha or Four-Card Omaha, is a thrilling twist on the classic Omaha game that's gaining popularity in the poker world. This wild and action-packed poker variation came onto the scene in 2008 and made its way to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2015. With an intoxicating mix of strategy, action, and high stakes, it's no wonder players worldwide are eager to learn this electrifying poker style.
If you're bent on joining the Big O poker craze, this post has your back. We'll walk you through the essential rules, provide some winning strategies, and point you towards the best resources for mastering Big O poker. It's high time to dive into this exciting new poker adventure, and this guide sets you up for success.
What is Big O Poker?
Big O poker is a hi/lo version of five card Pot Limit Omaha that's captured the attention of poker enthusiasts. Featuring five hole cards per player, pot limit betting, and hi/lo rules, Big O poker offers an edge-of-your-seat gaming experience.
The key difference between 5 Card PLO and Big O lies in the fact that every pot is split between a high hand and a low hand, provided a qualifying low hand is made. The low hand must be an unpaired hand with all cards lower than an eight for the player to win half of the pot. The other half goes to the player with the best standardized poker hand ranking.
Occasionally, the game may be referred to as Big O Omaha, but rest assured that Big O Omaha and Big O poker are one and the same.
The Origins of Big O Poker
The game first started cropping up in Southern California in 2008 and slowly spread throughout card rooms all over. The frenetic pace of the game caught on, and its strategic complexities drew both novice and seasoned pros to the Big O poker fold.
Now, Big O is a crucial part of the poker scene, played in both cash games and tournaments worldwide. From the WSOP's mixed games to standalone tournaments and poker rooms across America and beyond, Big O has staked its claim in the poker ecosystem.
The Rules of Big O Poker
Big O poker's rules are fairly easy to grasp for those familiar with NLH or PLO. Here's a brief rundown of the essential Big O poker rules you need to know:
- Blinds and Antes: The two players to the left of the dealer button kick things off by posting the small blind and the big blind. In tournaments, players also put in an ante bet in later stages.**
- Five Hole Cards: Each player gets dealt five hole cards in every Big O poker hand. Players must use two hole cards and three community cards to create both their high and their low hand.
- Pot Limit Betting: All betting and raising in Big O poker is capped by the pot's size, just like in PLO.
- Hi and Lo Hand: Each pot is divided between a high and a low hand, given a qualifying low hand is produced. A low hand can be any hand with no pairs, with all cards lower than an eight.
- Scooping: If a player manages to take both the high and the low hand, they swoop the entire pot. If no qualifying low hand is made, the best high hand rakes in the entire pot.
Big O Poker Hand Rankings
Now that we've covered the essentials of Big O poker rules, let's discuss the Big O poker hand rankings. The high hand rankings are identical to those in NLH, and you can find them arranged from strongest to weakest in the hand ranking table below:
When it comes to the low hand, the lowest hand wins the pot. The best possible low hand is 5♠ 4♦ 3♠ 2♦ A♥, in any suit. If multiple low hands are made, the lower high card wins the tussle. For instance, 6♥ 4♠ 3♥ 2♣ A♠ tops 7♠ 4♥ 3♦ 2♠ A♥ When two hands have the same high card, the lowest card wins. For example, 8♣ 6♥ 4♣ 3♥ 2♦ bests 8♥ 7♦ 4♠ 3♣ 2♥.
Here's a brief rundown of some primo low hands in Big O poker:
How to Play Big O Poker
The best way to learn how to play Big O poker is by example. A Big O hand unfolds much like a typical PLO hand, but players follow these steps:
- The Blinds: The two players to the dealer's left forfeit the small blind and the big blind to get things off the ground.
- The Deal: All players receive their five hole cards, which they combine with the community cards to form their hands.
- Preflop: The betting round starts with the player to the left of the big blind. All betting is confined to the pot's size.
- Flop: The dealer dishes out three community cards for all to see. Another betting round ensues, starting with the player in the small blind.
- Turn: Following flop betting, the dealer puts out the next community card, known as the turn. The betting process continues, following the same order as on the flop.
- River: The dealer drops the final community card. The betting round concludes before the showdown is announced.
- Showdown: The dealer announces showdown. Players reveal their hole cards, and the dealer compares them. The high hand victor and the low hand victor are announced when both hands exist.
Big O Poker Strategies to Bolster Your Win Rate
Like all poker games, Big O poker is all about strategy and outplaying your opponents. While Big O poker strategies are quite complex, here are some basic tips to help boost your Big O win rate:
Select Your Starting Hands Wisely
Choosing the correct starting hands is half the battle. You should aim for hand combinations that include an Ace and a low card, preferably a Deuce. Adding suited cards with the Ace, along with additional high cards like a King, Queen, or Jack, will up your chances of winning both portions of the pot by showdown.
Playing hands with no potential to win the low portion of the pot early on should be avoided – especially in earlier seats. Even if you have a premium PLO hand, it may not be the best option to play in Big O poker. Opt for cards that can win both halves of the pot by showdown.
Master Your Odds
Knowing how to calculate your poker odds is crucial in Big O poker. While a Big O poker calculator can be useful, you'll need to do the math for yourself while playing. For that reason, mastering equity and odds calculations is essential.
Big O is a game of draws, and you'll often need to count your outs and calculate your odds. The best approach is by learning the rule of 4 and 2, which allows you to quickly calculate your odds without any complex formulas.
Don't Draw to "Second Nuts"
With five hole cards for each player, and five community cards, making strong hands in Big O poker is relatively common. If you have a drawing hand, ensure you're drawing to "the nuts" (the best possible hand) before you call off a bet.
For example, if there are two hearts on the board, aim for a flush draw that includes the A♥, as this will give you the best possible flush. If you draw to the King-high flush, you'll often find yourself making your hand, only to lose to the superior flush in your opponent's hand.
Take Control of the Most Popular Poker Games Here
Big O poker is a popular variant in live poker games, but it's not as common online. If you're looking to play online, games like PLO and 5-Card PLO are more widely available, with numerous tables at CoinPoker.
Join CoinPoker today and practice your Omaha skills as you play at stakes starting as low as $0.01/$0.02. Grab our delectable welcome bonus, earn weekly cashback, and even compete in our freeroll tournaments with no risk and real money prizes on the line.
- Big O poker, a five card Pot Limit Omaha game, is capturing the attention of poker enthusiasts with its hi/lo version and edge-of-your-seat gaming experience.
- The Big O poker ecosystem includes cash games and tournaments worldwide, such as those found in the World Series of Poker and standalone tournaments across America and beyond.
- A crucial difference between 5 Card PLO and Big O lies in the fact that every pot is split between a high hand and a low hand, provided a qualifying low hand is made.
- In Big O poker, the low hand must be an unpaired hand with all cards lower than an eight for the player to win half of the pot, with the other half going to the player with the best standardized poker hand ranking.
- For those familiar with NLH or PLO, Big O poker rules are fairly easy to grasp, involving blinds and antes, five hole cards per player, pot limit betting, and a split pot between the high and low hands.
- As Big O poker gains popularity, poker enthusiasts are eager to join the craze and dive into a new poker adventure with this electrifying poker style.
- Instead of focusing solely on sports betting, some casual players at casino-and-gambling sites may find an alternative interest in playing poker in all its forms, including Big O poker.
