Omaha Hi Lo Rules

Omaha Hi/Low is a pretty tricky kind of game to play, as here you have to analyze twice as much and try to make two hands at the same time, i.e. the high hand and the low hand. Therefore, studying the rules becomes the real cornerstone on your way to success. They are much the same as in standard Omaha variation, the main differing feature here being that the pot is split between two players, the one with the best high hand and the one with the best low hand. It may even so happen that these two hands are created by one and the same player. You surely do know that, to win the low hand, the player should have 5 unpaired cards no higher than 8. Mind that you can also use an ace for your low hand.

The Betting Structure
The game consists of 4 betting rounds, very similar, or nearly the same as in Texas Hold’em. In the first two rounds of the game each bet or raise is supposed to equal the lower limit of the stakes, in the next two rounds it already equals the higher limit. If we take a $2/4 game as an example, you will bet or raise $2, when playing the first two rounds and $4 after the first two rounds are over.
The number of bets and raises allowed in each betting round is limited. There can be no more than 1 bet and 3 raises per round, which actually totals 4 raises. To sum up, the betting structure of each round consists of a bet, a raise, a re-raise and a cap.

The Blinds
The blinds are bets that 2 players to the left of the dealer have to post before even seeing their own cards, hence the name of this bet. This both adds money to the pot before the game actually starts and creates incentive for the players to go further into the game. The player to the immediate left of the dealer posts what is called the Small Blind and equals half the minimum stake of the game. A player, seated to the left of the Small Blind, posts the Big Blind, equal to the minimum stake size. Thus, if you are playing $2/4, the Small Blind will equal $2, while the Big one is going to be $4.

The First Betting Round
The Blinds have now been posted and time has come to deal the cards. In the first round of betting each player is dealt 4 cards face down. These are called private cards. Now for real betting, which starts to the left of the Big Blind and proceeds in a clockwise manner.

The Flop
That being over and done with, the dealer puts 3 community cards face up in the middle of the table. Community cards can be used by any of the players to create the best high or low hand possible. The second round of betting immediately follows.

The Turn
One more community card is put face up on the board. The card bears the name of the turn card and may again be used by any of the players. The third betting round begins.

The River
After everyone has bet on the turn, the dealer turns over the last, fifth, community card and places it in the middle of the table. The final betting round starts.

The Showdown
Now time has definitely come to evaluate your poker skills, learn your lesson and…. see who is the lucky winner. Good luck in that and see you at the Omaha Hi/Lo table!