PokerWorld.com Poker School - Learn Online Poker, Omaha Hold Em Hi/Lo

OMAHA HI/LO

Omaha Hi/Lo is also known as Omaha 8 or better or Omaha Hi/Lo 8. In Omaha Hi/Lo the pot is split 50-50 between the best High Hand and the best qualifying Low Hand. This game requires a lot of skill and we would recommend some practice before engaging in a real money game.

A Low Hand must have a high card of 8 or less to qualify. To be eligible to win the Low, the highest card must be a 5, 6, 7, or 8. The winning Low Hand (8 or better) is determined firstly by the player with the lowest High card. Upon a tie with the High card, the hand goes to the player with the next lowest High card. Any hand that has a high card of 9 or higher cannot qualify as a Low Hand.

If there is no qualifying Low Hand then the High Hand wins 100% of the pot.

Betting

The betting structure in Omaha Hold Em Hi/Lo is the same as in Texas Hold´em and Omaha High. The game will commence by players placing their respective blinds.

Here is the typical betting sequence for Omaha Hold Em Hi/Lo:

Each player is dealt two cards face-down (pocket cards) Card 1, 2, 3 and 4
First betting round (lower limit)
Dealer turns over three community board cards (the flop) face-up Card 5, 6 and 7
Second betting round (lower limit)
Dealer turns over 1 more community board card (the turn) Card 8
Third betting round (higher limit)
Dealer turns over 1 final community board card (the river) Card 9
Final betting round (higher limit)
Showdown

At the showdown, players must use exactly two of their pocket cards and three board cards.

Omaha Hold Em Hi/Lo betting structure rules

In Omaha Hold Em Hi/Lo, there are four possible betting rounds.
Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example, in a $2/$4 Fixed Limit game, all bets and raises are $2 for the first two rounds (after pocket cards are dealt and after the flop).
Betting and raising during the last two rounds is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In this example, all bets and raises will be $4.

The maximum allowable number of bets during any betting round in Omaha Hold Em Hi/Lo poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can´t be raised further. Once capped, players will only have the option of calling or folding.

There are other games where the cap on number of raises does not apply and they are No Limit and Pot Limit games. One on One games have a cap after 6 betting rounds.

Button & blinds for Omaha Hi/Lo

At the table, a graphic called the Dealer Button, a small round disk with the letter ´D´ marked on it, is used to signify the theoretical dealer of the hand. The hand is dealt clockwise one card at a time.

Betting Order

The Omaha Hold Em Hi/Lo cards are dealt in a specific order starting clockwise from the button and betting also takes place in a specific order as outlined below.

Betting

The small blind is a forced bet made by the player to the immediate left (clockwise) of the dealer button. The big blind is a forced bet made by the player to the immediate left (clockwise) of the small blind. The small blind is usually half the lower limit bet while the big blind is usually the same as the lower limit bet. In Omaha Hold Em, the player with a small blind is the first to receive a card.

Missed Blinds

To prevent "blinds" abuse, players are required to post the small blind and the big blind once per round or their equivalent upon reentry to the game if the blinds are missed. Our software will prompt you if you have missed one or both blinds, to put in the correct amount. You can also wait for the big blind to get to your position or to continue "sitting out" until you are ready to resume the game. If you choose to wait for the big blind, this is called coming in on the blind. In our Poker room if you miss three big blinds in the row, you will automatically be removed from the table. These rules are to prevent players from constantly entering poker games in a late position and leaving before they´e required to post.

Both blinds in Omaha Holdem games are considered live bets and therefore, according to poker rules, have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action returns to their position. After the flop and each subsequent betting round, the first active Omaha Holdem player left of the button is the first to act.

First Round

After the players in the blind positions put their blinds in front of them, the dealer deals two cards (pocket or hole cards) to each player (one at the time), at which time each player can see his own cards but not those of his opponents. On the first round only, the betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind, who has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold. On the first round only, a player cannot check (make no bet) and still retain his hand. On the first round only, the player in the small blind position acts after the button. The player in the big blind position acts after the small blind.

Bet/Raise/Call/Check/Fold

Once a betting round has started, you must select one of these options from the play buttons that appears when it is your turn. If you choose one of the advance options (advance buttons), your bet is made automatically on your turn. If you select "Sit Out" or you close the window after a round has started, your bet will be considered a fold. If you click the "Sit Out" button before the game is started, you cannot be "Dealt In" until the hand ends. If your connection is lost, your hand will be played as an all-in bet. Please read our all-in policy for a detailed explanation.

Big Blind Option

The player who has the big blind is given the option to fold, check or raise if no one has raised before him/her. If someone has raised, he/she will be given the option to fold, call or raise.

Succeeding Rounds

In all rounds except the first, the betting starts with the first active player to the left of the button, who has one of three choices, check, bet, or fold. Until there is a bet, each succeeding active player has the same choices. Once a bet is made, each succeeding player then has in turn one of three choices, call, raise, or fold.

Showdown

When all the betting is done, and if more than one player is still in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins. The last player to open or raise is required to show his/her cards first, and anyone else can fold (muck his cards) if he/she determines he/she has lost. Players who elect to fold do not have to show their cards.

Rake

Like all casino games, casino poker has an organized betting structure. For example, if you´re playing at a $2/$4 fixed limit table, you can only bet at increments of $2 until the fourth board card is dealt. There are also tables that don´t use fixed limits. PokerWorld.com offers both No Limit and Pot Limit games.

Unlike other casino games, poker is a game among players, and not a game against the house. Therefore the poker room makes money by collecting a rake. The rake is a predetermined amount that is removed from the pot. The rake amount varies depending on the number of people seated, the limits of the table, and the amount of the pot.