Omaha Hi/Lo Information & Rules

 

Overview:

 

 

 

Players:

 

 
Up to 8 players are allowed to play in the same game.

 

 

Dealer:

 

 
In Omaha H/L a button (the "dealer button") indicates who the dealer is. The deal moves clockwise between the players.

 

 

Blinds:

 

 
Omaha H/L is played with two blinds, the "small blind" and the "big blind". Before any cards are dealt the blinds must be posted. The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind and the next player in turn posts the big blind. The blinds are considered as "live" bets. If you have posted a blind you are only required to make up the difference, if any, between the blind and the current bet. The players in the blinds have the option to fold, call, check or raise in turn.

 

 

Deal:

 

 
Each player receives 4 cards dealt face down. These 4 cards are called the "hole cards". After that there will be 3 community cards dealt face up on the board, "the flop". Then another community card, "the turn" or "fourth street" will be dealt. Finally the last community card, "the river" or "fifth street", will make it 5 cards showing on the board.

 

 

Betting order:

 

 
In Omaha H/L there are 4 betting rounds. The first betting round takes place after each player is dealt his hole cards. In this round the player to the left of the big blind is first to act. In the following betting rounds the first active player to the left of the dealer button starts the action.

 

 

Showdown:

 

 
If no more betting takes place, after all the cards have been dealt out, there is a showdown to determine the winner. The best 5 card hand wins the high pot and the lowest 5 card hand wins the low pot if the hand qualifies (see below). The players must use exactly 2 of their 4 hole cards and 3 community cards. If two or more players show the same winning hand they split the pot. If there was betting on fifth street the player who made the last bet or raise must show his hand first. If there was no betting, the first remaining player to the left of the dealer will be the first one to show his hand.

 

 

The pot is split between the best hand for high and the best hand for low. Omaha H/L is played with an "8 or better" qualifier, which means that a hand must be, at worst, an 8 for low to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot.