In-depth Guide on how to play Omaha Hi/Lo Poker
In this part of our detailed guides on how to play poker, we are going to explore Omaha Hi/Lo, a popular variation of the traditional Omaha Poker game. The game is a split pot version of the original, with the pot being split between the traditional high winning hand and a low hand. The game is also referred to as ‘Omaha 8’. In this guide, we are going to explore all of the differences between this and standard Omaha Poker, the game stages, and more.
How to Play Omaha Hi/Lo Poker and Rules
As in traditional Omaha Poker, the game requires players to make their best possible hand using two of their hole cards (the cards in your hand) and three of the community cards. You can make both your high and low hand using a variation of the same cards. To qualify for a low hand, players need to have five unpaired cards that rank eight or lower, with an Ace being considered a low card. Let’s explore the stages of the game and how they play out.
Pre-Flop
Pre-flop sees all of the player’s hands dealt. After checking their cards, players can pay their hand by calling or raising the big blind. The first person to play is the one sitting to the left of the big blind.
The Flop
When the pre-flop is finished, the flop begins. This sees the first three community cards turned over. The betting then begins again, working clockwise from the button. Players have the same betting options as before.
The Turn
The next move is the turn, which is when the fourth community card is turned around. Once again, the play resumes with the player to the left of the button.
The River
When the turn is complete and everyone has finished betting, the river takes place. This is when the fifth and final community card is revealed. To put together a winning high or low hand, players will need to make a hand using two of their hole cards and three of the five community cards. The betting then continues in the same pattern as previous rounds.
The Showdown
If multiple players are remaining when the betting is finished from the turn, hands are revealed. The player with the best five-card hand will win half of the pot, and the player with the lowest hand wins. The lowest hand must consist of five unmatched cards with a value of eight or less. If there is no low hand, then the player with the highest hand will take all of the pot.
Omaha Hi/Lo Split-8-or-Better Hand Sample
In Omaha Hi/Lo, the high hand is won by traditional poker hands values. However, the low hand is won by having the lowest combinations of cards of eight or lower. For example:
The community cards could read: A, K, 6, 3, Q
You could have: A, Q ,5, 2
Your opponent's hand is A, K, 7, 5
From this, your best possible hand is two pairs - A and Q, with the K as the kicker. The best possible low hand is 5, 2, 3, 6, A.
Your opponent can also make two pairs - A and K, and their lowest hand would be 7, 5,6, 3, A.
In this scenario, your opponent will win the high hand, but you will win the low.
Omaha Hi/Lo Types of Games
You will encounter three main betting types of games in Omaha Hi/Lo. These are largely the same as the ones in other Poker variants.
Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is when bets are pre-determined before the game. All bets and raises are the same as the big blind. Traditionally, only four bets are allowed per player during the game. This is an effective way of keeping the action moving.
Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
In Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, the betting limits are a little more liberal. The minimum a player can raise is the amount of the previous raise or bet. For example, if a player raises $2, you must also raise at least $2. The maximum raise in the game is the pot amount. So, if the pot is $100, then the raise can be at most $100.
No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is where the big hitters will play. The game has the same minimum bet as Pot Limit Poker, but there is no limit on the maximum that can be raised, with players able to place their entire stack (all in) on a hand.
Best Online Casinos to Play Omaha Hi/Lo
Omaha Hi/Lo is an extremely popular poker variant that can be played at some of the best poker sites in the UK. The game is widely available, and knowing the best casino to play at can take time and effort. As such, we recommend checking out our detailed online casino reviews here at Gambling Zone.
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