Omaha Hi-Lo - The Basics

Game Description

Omaha (8 or Better) is also sometimes known as Omaha High-Low or Omaha Hi-Lo. It is played like the high version of Omaha, except at the showdown the pot is split between the holder of the highest hand and the holder of the lowest qualifying hand. In Omaha (8 or Better), if you do not have two cards 8 or lower among your four downcards, you cannot qualify for low. If three or more cards 8 or lower do not end up among the five community cards, no low is possible. In that case, the pot will not be split (unless two hands tie for high).

The betting starts after four cards are dealt to each player. These cards are unique to each player. The next three cards (called flop cards or, simply, the flop) are then dealt in the center of the table. These cards are community cards and are part of each active player's hand. A second round of betting occurs. The fourth community card (the turn card) is dealt in the center of the table, followed by another (third) round of betting.

The final community card (the river card) is dealt in the center of the table, followed by a final (fourth) round of betting. The turn and river cards are also community cards used by all players. When all bets have been equalized, the showdown takes place among the remaining players—also known as active players—and the winner is declared. If only one player remains at the end of any round, there is no showdown and the pot is awarded to that lone remaining player. A player uses the best five cards among the combination of any two of his pocket cards with any three of the community cards to determine his hand. (See Winning Hands.)

Check-and-raise is allowed in all Omaha (8 or Better) games (except on the first round, when a player, on his turn, must either bet or fold). The maximum allowable wager is always indicated on the Bet prompt and the lowest allowable wager is the default in the Bet window.

The Omaha (8 or Better) cards are dealt in a specific order and betting also takes place in a specific order. The order is as follows:

Blinds - The small blind is a forced bet made by the player to the immediate left of the dealer. The big blind is a forced bet made by the player to the immediate left of the small blind.

Small Blind - In Omaha (8 or Better), the small blind is a bet equal in size to one half the game's minimum bet, rounded down to the nearest unit. (For example, in a $4-$8 game, the small blind is $2.

Big Blind - In Omaha (8 or Better, the big blind is a bet equal in size to the game's minimum bet. (For example, in a $4-$8 game, the big blind is $3.)

Missed Blinds - Players are required to post the small blind and the big blind once per round or their equivalent upon reentry to the game if the blinds are missed. You can also wait for the blind to get to your position. This is called coming in on the blind.

First Round - After the players in the blind positions put their blinds into the pot, the dealer deals four cards (pocket or hole cards) to each player, at which time each player can see his own cards but not those of his opponents. On the first round only, the betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind, who has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold. On the first round only, a player cannot check (make no bet) and still retain his hand. On the first round only, the player in the small blind position acts after the button. The player in the big blind position acts after the small blind.

Raise/Call/Check/Fold - Once a betting round has started you must select one of these options when it is your turn.

Option - The player who has the big blind is given the option to raise, check, call, or fold when it is his turn. If no one has raised, the big blind has the option of checking (that is, not increasing the bet) or raising.

Succeeding Rounds - In all rounds except the first, the betting starts with the first active player to the left of the dealer, who has one of three choices, check, bet, or fold. Until there is a bet, each succeeding active player has the same choices. Once a bet is made, each succeeding player then has in turn one of three choices, call, raise, or fold.

At the showdown, if more than one active player remains, hole cards are displayed and the pot is split between the holder of the highest hand and the holder of the lowest qualifying hand. The same player can win both the high and the low half of the pot. If no hand qualifies for low, the entire pot goes to the holder of the highest hand. If there is a tie for either high or low, that half of the pot is split among the tying hands. One player can even win three-fourths of the pot (by, for example, winning all of the high half and half of the low half). Splitting pots and qualifiers are all discussed under Winning Hands.

A sample deal shows how players form their hands. For example, four players start with these hands:

• Player 1: A 2 K K
• Player 2: A 2 3 3
• Player 3: 2 3 4 4
• Player 4: 6 7 6 7

The board ends up this way: 3 4 5 K K. These are the final hands:

• Player 1 uses the A 2 to form his best low hand, A 2 3 4 5 (a wheel).
• Player 1 uses the K K to form his best high hand, K K K K 5 (four kings).
• Player 2 uses the A 2 to form his best low hand, A 2 3 4 5 (a wheel).
• Player 2 uses the 3 3 to form his best high hand, 3 3 3 K K (a full house, threes full of kings).
• Player 3 cannot make a low hand.
• Player 3 uses the 4 4 to form his best high hand, 4 4 4 K K (a full house, fours full of kings).
• Player 4 uses any of his 6-7 combinations to form his best low hand, 3-4-5-6-7.
• Player 4 uses the 6 7 to form his best high hand, K 7 6 4 3 (a king-high flush).

At the showdown, the software awards one fourth of the pot each to Player 1 and Player 2. That is, they split the low half of the pot. The software also awards the entire high half of the pot to Player 1. Player 1 gets three-fourths of the pot. Players 3 and 4 win no share of the pot. The term for what has happened to Player 2 is that he has been quartered.

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