Omaha Hi/Lo is a popular variant of Omaha. In this version the best hand and the worst hand each get half of the pot, that is, as long as your low hand contains at least an 8 or better. You can use different cards for the two hands, making it possible to win both the high and low hand. If there is no qualifying Low hand the entire pot goes to the winning high hand.
High hands are ranked exactly the same as Omaha High. A Low hand, simply put, doesn't qualify if it beats an 8. If you have never played a Hi/Lo game you may want to read this a couple times in order to fully understand what a qualifying Low hand is and how they are ranked.
QUALIFYING HANDS: Like Omaha High, you receive 4 cards face down. You use these cards in combination with the 5 table cards. At showdown, you must use exactly two of your down cards and three table cards to make up a high hand and a low hand. It's possible for you to win both the high and the low pot with two different pocket cards. Of the five cards used in a low hand, an 8 is the highest-ranking card you can use. The lowest high card determines the best low hand. If two or more players have the same high card, then the next lowest high card is used. Take a look at this example:
At showdown - Player X holds 8, 7, 5, 3, 2 and Player Y holds 8, 7, 5, and 4, Ace.
Some may look at this and think that Player Y has the winning low hand because the lowest card, an Ace, is held. This is incorrect. Player X holds the winning hand. If you refer to the paragraph above, the “lowest high card…then the next lowest high card” determines ranking. So in ranking these two hands 8,7,5 is held in common with the next lowest card being a 3. Therefore, Player X holds the best low hand.
A Straight or a Flush is not considered a low hand even if it contains all cards with an individual rank of 8 or lower. The one exception to this is considered the best low hand – Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5. This is also considered as a straight for high, and both pots may be won with this hand.
The action for Omaha Hi/Lo is very much like Hold'em and Omaha High.
DEALER BUTTON: The dealer button indicates the position of the theoretical “dealer” of each hand. After each hand, it moves clockwise by one position. The player with the dealer button is referred to as being “on the button,” and is the last to act in all three betting rounds after the flop. The player to the immediate left of the dealer posts the “small blind” (see below), is the first to be dealt cards, and is the first to act in all three betting rounds after the flop.
BLINDS: Since there is no Ante, the “blinds” are mandatory bets posted by the two players to the immediate left of the dealer at the start of each hand, prior to the cards being dealt. The player directly to the left of the dealer posts the “small” blind, and the player directly to the left of the small blind posts the “big” blind. The big blind is generally twice the small blind. In Omaha cash games, the big blind is equal to the smallest allowable bet, and the small blind is equal to half the smallest allowable bet. When entering a cash game, you must post the equivalent of the big blind in your first hand. You have the option of waiting to enter the game until you are actually in the big blind.
BETTING: There are four rounds of betting in Omaha Hi/Lo.
- After the hole cards are dealt, the first round of betting occurs
- This is followed by the “flop,” in which the first three community cards are dealt; the second round of betting then occurs
- Following the second round of betting is the “turn” (or “fourth street”), in which the fourth community card is dealt; the third round of betting then occurs
- Following the third round of betting is the “river” (or “fifth street”), in which the fifth and final community card is dealt; the fourth and final round of betting then occurs.
BETTING STRUCTURE: All Poker software enforces the betting limits. The stakes being offered at the particular table determines the limit or maximum bet on any player's turn. For example, at a $1-$2 table, the limit on any bet is $1 on the first two betting rounds and $2 on the final two betting rounds. Most sites allow one bet and 3 raises in the card room.
SHOWDOWN: The first person to show their hand is the last person to show strength with a bet or raise. The pot is split between the highest and the lowest hand both containing exactly 2 pocket cards and three board cards. If there is not a qualifying low hand, the high hand gets the whole pot. If multiple hands are tied for either the high or low, the eligible pot is split with any odd amount going to the player nearest the ‘D' button's left.
Remember: You can use any two pocket cards and any three table cards for your high hand, and can also use any two of your pocket cards with any three table cards for your low hand. It's possible for you to win both the high pot and the low pot.
