Omaha Hi-Lo Poker Rules

Omaha Hi-Lo is know by a number of different names such as Omaha Eight or Better and Omaha 8/b, but the rules are all the same. In fact, the rules are practically identical to standard Omaha with the only difference being that the final pot is split between the player with the highest hand and the player with the lowest hand.

The game is easy to get to grips with, but it can take new players a little bit of time to get their heads around the qualification criteria for low hands, so with that in mind we'd recommend playing the game at free poker tables before risking your bankroll.

Omaha Low Hands

To qualify as a Low Hand in Omaha Hi-Lo, a player's poker hand shouldn't contain any chards ranked higher than an 8. Aces can count as high or low and you're not penalised for straights/flushes meaning that the best possible low hand being an A-2-3-4-5 straight. The second best is then A-2-3-4-6.

When it comes to any showdowns, it should also be remembered that low hands are ranked from their highest card. Therefore if a player with 2-3-6-7-8- comes up against an opponent with A-3-5-6-7, the first player would win the pot due to the fact their highest card is ranked higher than the second player.

It's certainly possible for one player to claim both the "Low" half and the "High" half of the pot at the same time. Something like an A-2-3-4-5 would definitely win the lowest half of the pot (it's the nut hand after all!), but it could also win the highest half of the pot due to the fact that its a straight.

Blinds

The blinds for Omaha Hi-Lo work in the same way as they would in standard Omaha or even Texas Holdem. The player to the left of the dealer is nominated the Small Blind, with the person to the left of him/her being awarded the big blind.

The value of the small blind is half of one minimum bet and the size of the big blind is equal to one minimum bet.

Therefore a $4/$8 Hi Lo game would require the Small Blind to put $2 in to the middle of the table before cards are dealt with the big blind being responsible for $4.

Dealing Preflop

With all blinds being paid, each player receives four cards dealt face down. The dealer starts with the player to his immediate left and deals everyone one card in turn before going back around the circle again and giving everyone their next card.

Once all players have received their cards, the first round of betting starts. The player to the immediate left of the big blind is the first person to act with subsequant action following in a clock wise manner. Players can chose to "Call", "Raise" or "Fold."

The Flop

Once the first round of betting has ended, three cards known as "The Flop" are dealt face up in the middle of the table. Any two of a players hole cards must be used with any three of these community cards to make the best possible five card poker hand.

Once the flop has been dealt, a second round of betting takes place. This time, the player to the immediate left of the dealer bets first with action continuing clockwise around the table.

The Turn

The fourth community card to be dealt face-up in the middle of the table is known as The Turn. As before, another round of betting takes place with the player to the left of the dealer acting first.

The River

One last card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. This is called "The River" and is the final community card that players can use to make their hands.

There is one last round of betting.

The Showdown

If, at the end of this final round of betting, there is still more than one player involved in the hand, all cards must be turned over. The player with the highest poker hand wins half of the pot and the player with the lowerst hand wins the other half of the pot.

If one player has both the highest hand and the lowest hand, they win the entire pot. Equally, if there is no qualifying low hand, the player with the highest hand wins the entire pot.