fundoopoker.com

27/09/2011

Omaha Hi/Lo is very much like traditional Omaha. Each player is dealt four cards, with five community cards dealt and four rounds of betting. This version of poker also uses a standard deck of playing cards. The difference is in how the pot is won at showdown. Omaha Hi/Lo can also be known as Omaha 8.

Objective

In Omaha Hi/Lo, the aim in each hand is to win the pot. The pot can be won by forcing all the other players in the hand to fold, or by going to showdown with the best hand. A showdown in Omaha Hi/Lo can result in a number of outcomes. The pot can be split between the player with the best hand and the player with the lowest qualifying hand. For a low hand to qualify it must consist of five unpaired cards of rank 8 or lower. Straights and flushes are ignored for a low hand and ace is considered the lowest card. Therefore the best low hand is A2345.

If there are no qualifying low hands, then the player with the best hand wins the whole pot. It is also possible to have both the best hand and the lowest hand, in which case that player would also win the entire pot. 

Pre-Flop

Firstly, the forced bets – known as the blinds – are placed. The player to the left of the dealer places the small blind, the player to his left places the big blind. The big blind is twice the size of the small blind. The size of these blinds is decided prior to the game starting.

The dealer must shuffle and then deal. Each player receives four cards, which are referred to as their hole cards. Hole cards are not to be revealed to the other players until showdown, or until the hand is over.

The player to left of the button starts the first round of betting with one of the following actions:

Fold. Discards their cards and sits out the rest of the hand.

Call. Places a bet the same size as the big blind.

Raise. Places a bet larger than the big blind (it must be at least double the size). 

Play continues to the left and goes clockwise round the whole table, with each player making their action in turn. When a raise is made, players wishing to remain in the hand must call the amount of the raise. Alternatively, they can re-raise and further increase the size of the bet. Once the bets are equalised – i.e. everyone has either called or folded - play moves on to the next stage. If only one player remains then the pot is theirs.

The Flop

Three cards are dealt face up into the middle of the table by the dealer. These three community cards are known collectively as the flop.

Another round of betting takes place as per the previous round. There are no blinds in this round and the action starts to the left of the dealer. Play moves on to the next stage once the betting is complete, unless only one player is left in which case they win the pot.

The Turn

 The dealer deals another card face up into the middle of the table, which is known as the turn card.

A further round of betting takes place between the remaining players before the next phase of the hand. If a player should force all his opponents to fold at this point, that player gets the pot.

The River

The fifth community card is placed face up on the table by the dealer. This final community card is known as the river card.

One more round of betting takes place with one of two outcomes. If just one player remains then they win the pot. If more than one player is still in the hand, it’s time for the showdown.

Showdown

All the players that are still in play reveal their hands and the outcome is determined. The pot can either be split between the high hand and the low hand, or one player can take it all.

Now the hand is complete, the dealer button moves one position clockwise, the cards are shuffled and a new hand is dealt.