How to Play Big O Poker: Best Playing Guide with Rules, Ranks, and Strategy

Big O poker is one of the emerging poker variations that are taking the poker world by storm. The game has been around since 2008 and became a part of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2015. Ever since, players all around the world have been scrambling to learn how to play Big O poker. 

If you are also looking to learn this popular poker variant, this page has everything you need. We will teach you the basic rules of Big O poker, provide some strategic tips, and point you in the right direction. The time to start learning Big O poker is now, and this guide is a one-stop-shot to getting started with this exciting new poker game. 

What Is Big O Poker?

Big O poker is a hi/lo version of five card Pot Limit Omaha that has gained popularity in recent years. Played with five hole cards per player, pot limit betting, and hi/lo rules, Big O poker is an action-packed poker variant. 

The big difference between 5 Card PLO and Big O is the fact every pot is split between a high hand and a low hand, if a qualifying low hand is made. A low hand has to be an unpaired hand with all cards lower than an eight. The player who makes the best low hand gets to win one half of the pot, while the other half goes to the player who wins according to the standardized poker hand rankings. 

The game is sometimes called Big O Omaha, and it’s important to point out that Big O Omaha and Big O poker are the exact same game. 

Big O Origins: Where Did the Game Come From?

The game began appearing in Southern California in 2008 and slowly started spreading around card rooms everywhere. The action-packed nature of the game helped it gain popularity. The strategic nuances associated with pursuing low hands make the game appealing to newcomers and seasoned pros alike. 

Today, Big O is a big part of the poker ecosystem, played in both cash games and tournaments around the world. Big O poker has crept its way into various mixed games, has standalone tournaments at the WSOP, and is a popular game to play in many poker rooms across America and beyond. 

What Are the Rules of Big O Poker?

The rules of Big O poker are fairly straightforward. Players who have played NLH or PLO in the past should be familiar with most, but a few are unique to this game. Here is a glance at the key Big O poker rules you should know:

• Blinds and Antes: The two players to the left of the dealer button post the small blind and the big blind to get the action going. In tournaments, players also pay an ante bet in the later levels. 
• Five Hole Cards: Each player receives five hole cards in every hand of Big O poker. Two hole cards and three community cards must be used to make a high and a low hand. 
• Pot Limit Betting: All betting and raising in Big O poker is limited by the size of the pot, just as it is in PLO. 
• Hi and Lo Hand: Each pot is split between a high and a low hand, if a qualifying low hand exists. A low hand can only be a hand with no pairs, where every card is an eight or lower. 
• Scooping: If a player makes the best high and low hand, they scoop the pot. If no qualifying low hand is made, the best high hand wins the entire pot as well. 

Big O Hand Rankings: What Beats What?

Now that we’ve touched on the basic Big O poker rules, let’s take a look at the Big O poker hand rankings as well. The rankings for the high hand are identical to those of NLH, and you can find them ranked from best to worst in the table below:

When it comes to the low hand, the hand made up of the lowest cards wins. The best possible low hand is 5♠ 4♦ 3♠ 2♦ A♥ of any suits. If more than one low hand is made, the hand with the lowest high card wins. For example, 6♥ 4♠ 3♥ 2♣ A♠ beats 7♠ 4♥ 3♦ 2♠ A♥ When two hands with the same high card go to showdown, the one with the next lowest card wins. For example 8♣ 6♥ 4♣ 3♥ 2♦ beats 8♥ 7♦ 4♠ 3♣ 2♥. 

Here is a quick look at some of the best low hands in Big O poker:

How to Play Big O: Step-by-Step-Walkthorough

The best way to learn how to play Big O poker is through an example. A hand of Big O plays out in a similar way to a PLO hand, as players make their way through the following steps:

• The Blinds: The two players to the left of the dealer button post the small blind and the big blind before the dealing begins. 
• The Deal: All players are dealt their five hole cards, which they will use with community cards to make their hands. 
• Preflop: The first round of betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind. All betting is restricted to the size of the pot. 
• Flop: The dealer puts out three community cards for all players 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, called the turn. Players take another round betting their hands in the same order as on the flop. 
• River: The final community card is put in its place by the dealer. One final betting round goes down before the showdown is announced. 
• Showdown: The dealer announces showdown. Players turn over their hole cards, and the dealer compares them. A high hand winner and a low hand winner are announced, if both hands exist. 

Big O Strategy Tips to Boost Your Win Rate

Like all poker games, Big O poker is all about strategy and outplaying your opponents. While Big O poker strategy is quite complex, here are a few basic tips that will help boost your Big O win rate almost immediately. 

Choose Your Starting Hands Carefully

Choosing the right Big O poker starting hands is half the battle. You should be looking to play hands with an Ace and another low card, preferably a Deuce. Along with those, you will want to have cards suited with your Ace, as well as other high cards like a King, Queen, or Jack. 

Starting with a hand that has no potential to win the low portion of the pot is not a good idea. Such hands should especially be folded in earlier positions. Even if you have a premium PLO hand, it may not be the best candidate to start in Big O poker. You want to have cards that can win both portions of the pot by showdown. 

Know Your Odds

Knowing how to calculate your poker odds is of key importance in Big O poker. While a Big O poker calculator can come in handy while studying, you will have to do the math yourself when playing. For that reason, mastering equity and odds calculations is essential. 

Big O is a game of draws, and you will often find yourself having to count your outs and calculate your odds. The best way to go about it is by learning the rule of 4 and 2, which allows you to quickly calculate your odds without any complex mathematics. 

Don’t Draw to “Second Nuts”

With five hole cards per player, and five community cards, making big hands in Big O poker is pretty common. If you have a drawing hand, make sure you are drawing to “the nuts” (best possible hand) before you call off a bet. 

For example, if there are two hearts on the board, you want to have a flush draw that contains the A♥, which allows you to make the best possible flush. If you draw to the King-high flush, you will often find yourself making your hand, only to lose to the superior flush in your opponent’s hand. 

Tap Into the Most Popular Poker Games Here

Big O poker is a very popular variant in live poker rooms, but not a staple in online poker. If you are looking to play online, games like PLO and 5-Card PLO are a lot more common, and you can find plenty of tables at CoinPoker. 

Join CoinPoker today to practice your Omaha poker skills and play at stakes starting as low as $0.01/$0.02. Claim our juicy welcome bonus, get weekly cashback, and even compete in our freeroll tournaments with no risk and real money prizes up for grabs. 

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