Omaha Hi Lo Poker

There are two variations of Omaha. Omaha, which is a high hand game, and Omaha Hi-Lo. We will take them in that order.

Omaha is similar to Texas Hold-em poker with obviously some differences.

How to Play Omaha

The game is played with a standard 52 card deck.

The deal moves clockwise from player to player. In casinos, the players do not actually deal, the dealer does not play, but moves a marker called the “button” in front of the player who would be the dealer to move the order of the beginning bettors one player clockwise on each hand.

As in Texas Hold-em, there are two “blinds.” These are the two players to the left of the dealer (the “button”). The first to the left, the “small blind” starts the pot with half the minimum bet, then the “big blind” the next leftmost player, puts in the minimum bet. This starts the pot.

Then, four down cards are dealt, after which betting starts.

The player to the left of the big blind starts the betting process by either calling, raising or folding, as does each player in turn.

Then comes what is called the “Flop.”

The dealer deals three community up cards in the center of the table.

This is followed by another betting round.

The “Turn:”

This is another community up card.

A round of betting follows.

The “River:”

This is a fifth and final up community card dealt, followed by the last round of betting.

The “Showdown:”

The goal of the player is now to make their best five card poker hand, using exactly two of their hole cards of the four, and three of the community cards.

This is where it differs greatly from Texas Hold-em, where you may use any combination of hole and up cards.

How to Play Omaha Hi-Lo – Omaha Hi Lo Rules

Omaha Hi-Lo is basically the same as Omaha High in that a 52 card deck is used, the blinds are the same, the order of dealing down and up cards and betting is also the same. The difference is that the goal in Omaha High Low is to make TWO poker hands, one the best (the high), and one the worst (the Low).

Hands must still be made using two down cards and three up (community) cards, but different (or even the same) down and up cards may be used in both your high and low hands.

The rules of the two games are otherwise basically the same. The pot is split by the winning high hand and the winning low hand. If no hand qualifies for low, the best high hand wins the entire pot.

The eight or better rule for the low hand means that your low hand cannot have a card greater than an eight in it.

Some casinos play a nine or even a seven or better rule for the low hand rule but this is not as common as eight or better.

One other variation is five down cards but this is also uncommon and again, two down cards must be used to make any hand.