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Author: MasterBets
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The Rules Of Omaha Hi-LoOmaha Hi-Lo is also known as Omaha 8 or better. It is the same game. The game is usually played in the limit format (structured betting for each round that is predetermined) or pot-limit (players may bet up to the value of the pot on each betting round).
The player next to the button / dealer is required to place the small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower stake. This is a guideline for determining the blinds and not a strict rule. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind, equal to the lower stake limit. In a certain scenario it is possible for more than one player to post a big blind in a hand. This is if a new player joins a table at which a game is already going on. The player would get an option of placing a Big Blind at the start of the next hand or wait for his/her turn (as decided by the movement of the button) to place the Big Blind in turn. All the blinds in Omaha 8 or Better poker are considered live bets and the players who posted them will have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting returns to their position.
After the blinds have been placed, the down cards / hole cards are dealt to each active player. In Omaha Hi-Lo, 4 cards are dealt to each of the players, after which the first betting round starts. The player to the left of the player who placed the big blind starts the betting for this round. Each player will now have the option to place his or her bets in the first round, which is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $10/$20 Omaha 8 or Better game, the value of each bet is $10 for the first round.
After the first round of betting is over, the Flop (the first three cards of the community) is dealt. The community cards are common to all the players participating in the hand.
After the flop and in each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act. The second betting round also limits the value of bets and raises to the lower limit of the stake structure. So in a $10/$20 the value of each bet is $10 for the second round.
After this the fourth community card is dealt out. This is known as the Turn card or Fourth Street.
The third betting round starts again with the player left to the button, and bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure ($10/$20 game, $20 would be the upper stake).
After this the fifth community card is dealt out. This is known as the River or Fifth Street.
The fourth (and final) betting round starts again with the player left to the button, and bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure. On the final round of betting, the player who bets first (or checks first if no one else bets) is required to show their cards first at the showdown. If they have the best hand, the remaining players may/may not show their cards as they wish.
There is no qualifying on the High side. The best high hand automatically wins half the pot and could win the whole pot. To win the Low side of the pot, however, you must qualify (which is why the game is named Omaha 8 or Better).
To qualify for Low: It takes a five-card hand with different numerical values from Ace through eight (with the Ace being the lowest) to qualify for the Low half of the pot. The best Low hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5 (also known as the wheel or bicycle). The winning Low hand goes to the player with the lowest high card. For example, a player with a 2,4,5,6,7 would have a better Low hand than someone with an A,2,4,6,8.
If two or more players have the same high card, the player with the second lowest card (or third, fourth, or fifth if necessary) in their hand wins the low side of the pot. In case two or more players tie for one side of the pot, they will split that half into equally divided portions. If there is an odd chip, it goes to the person closest to the left of the button. (One player winning the High side and two players who ties for the Low side is not uncommon in Omaha Hi-Lo.)
Remember that Straights and Flushes do NOT count against you when qualifying for Low. You are permitted to use different cards in your hand for the High side and different cards for the Low side or the same cards for both the High and Low sides.
Omaha High works in exactly the same way, with the same number of hole cards (four) and the same number of community cards (five), as well as the same number of structured betting intervals. The only difference is that there is no Low hand, only the highest hand wins and takes the entire pot (unless the high hand is a tie, in which case the pot is split - well, duh!)
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| 7/1/2008 12:04:12 PM |
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