Learning to play Omaha Hi / Lo
Omaha Hi/Lo Split is one of the most popular poker variations. Play in Omaha-Hi/Lo
goes through 4 sequential rounds of betting: pre-flop, on the flop, the turn, and
the river. Hi/lo games are played so that the pot is split between the best high
hand and the best low hand.
Omaha Hi-Lo Terminology | Omaha Hi-Lo Rules | Omaha Hi-Lo Tips
Omaha Hi-Lo Rules
Hi/Lo games at 7Sultans Poker are played with an 8 as the qualifier for low. This
means that to qualify as a low hand, the hand must contain 5 unpaired cards of the
rank of 8 or lower. For purposes of the low hand, the ace is considered to be the
lowest card in the deck and straights and flushes do not count for low. If no hand
qualifies as a low hand then the high hand wins the whole pot. For purposes of finding
the winning low hand, the wheel - A, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the best possible low hand and
a straight 8 - 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 is the worst possible low hand.
To start the hand the deck is shuffled, the blinds are posted and each player is
dealt four cards face down, his hole cards. There is a round of betting which is
limited to one bet and three raises. When this first round of betting action is
complete the dealer will place three cards face up on the table. These three cards
are called the flop. All cards dealt face-up on the table are community cards. In
Omaha Hi and Omaha Hi/Lo all legitimate hands consist of 2 hole cards and three
board cards. A player may use any 2 of his 4 hole cards but he must use exactly
2 of his hole cards combined with any 3 of the 5-board/community cards to make his
best low hand, best high hand or both.
The flop is followed by another round of betting. In limit games this second round
of betting is the last round at the lower limit. After this round all bets and raises
will be at the higher limit. After this on the flop action is complete the dealer
will place a fourth card, face-up, on the table. This is the turn card and is another
community card that any player may combine along with any 2 other board cards and
any 2 of his hole cards. After the turn card is dealt the third round of betting
begins. In limit games all bets and raises on the turn are for the higher amount.
The action on all rounds is limited to one bet and three raises. When the betting
on the turn is complete the fifth and final card, the river card, is dealt face-up
on the board. All remaining players now have 9 cards from which they may make their
best hand. Of these nine cards players must use any 2, but exactly 2, of their 4
hole cards plus any 3 of the 5 board cards to make their hand. Once the river card
has been dealt the final round of betting begins. This last, fourth, round of betting
is at the higher limit. When the action is complete, the pot is split between the
best high hand and the best low hand. If there is no remaining low hand that qualifies
then the best high hand gets the entire pot.
Omaha Hi-Lo Tips
Pre-Flop Tip for Beginners:
Try to only play hands than can go both ways. It is hard to imagine a good Omaha
Hi/Lo starting hand that doesn't include at least one ace. Make sure that all four
of your hole cards work together in some way to add value to the hand.
On The Flop
The betting on the flop is the last round at the lower limit, $3. On the flop all
bets and raises will be for $3 and the action is limited to one bet and three raises.
The action will continue around the table until complete and then another card,
the turn card, will be placed face up on the board and the betting action on the
turn will begin.
On The Flop Tip for Beginners:
Only continue beyond the flop with the nuts or a draw to the nuts.
The Turn
On the turn there is only one more card to come.
On the turn all bets and raises are for the higher limit, in this case $6.
On all rounds the action is limited to one bet and three raises.
Turn Tip for Beginners:
With a made nut hand for both a high or low bet and raise to build the pot you will
probably win.
When the betting action on the turn is complete the river card, the final card,
is placed on the board and the last round of betting begins.
The River
On the river the last card has been dealt, all hands are complete, and all bets
and raises are for the higher limit, $6.
Action on the river is limited to one bet and three raises.
River Tips for Beginners:
When the pots are big, and in the absence of true strength, consider a value call
with any made hand, high or low.
General Omaha Hi/Lo Poker Tips for Beginners:
Be very selective in the hands you play.
Almost every good Omaha Hi/Lo starting hand will contain at least one ace.
Don't play hands with cards of middle rank, 6-10.
Tight and aggressive is the style that usually does the best.
To continue with any Omaha Hi/Lo hand you must have the nuts or be drawing to the
nuts.
Omaha Hi-Lo Terminology
Action - The betting. When it is said that the action is to a certain
player it means it is his turn to act. He may bet, check, raise or fold.
Bet, Check, Raise, Fold
As the action for a particular round begins each player in turn has the option to
fold which is to throw his hand away and sit out the current hand, check, that is
pass the action without putting money in the pot, or to bet. The first person to
put money in the pot on any given round of betting is the bettor. After this first
bet is made subsequent players have three choices; call (put an amount that matches
the bet into the pot), raise (put an amount that is equal to twice the bet into
the pot) or fold (when a player folds he surrenders his cards and removes himself
from contention for the pot). After a raise has been made subsequent players also
have three choices; call the raise, re-raise or fold.
Blinds
These are forced bets that begin the action. In Hold'em there are two blinds. The
Little Blind in placed by the player to the left of the dealer button and is usually
equal to 1/3 - 2/3 the amount of the Big Blind. The big blind is equal to a bet
at the lower limit. In a $10/$20 came the small blind is $5 and the big blind is
$10. Both of these blinds are live, which means when the betting reaches the blinds
they may raise. This is the only place in poker where a player may raise his own
bet.
The Flop
After the first round of betting the dealer places three cards on the board face-up.
These three cards are community cards and are call the flop.
Community Cards
These are the cards that are dealt face-up on the board. They may be used in any
amount in any player's hand to make his best poker hand. Click here to see a complete
list and ranking of all recognized Hold'em poker hands.
Dealer Button
In Hold'em there is a button that rotates around the table in a clockwise direction.
Cards are dealt in a clockwise direction starting with the player to the immediate
left of the dealer button. After the hand is completed and the pot awarded, the
dealer moves the Dealer Button to the player to the immediate left of the player
who just had it. This is done, because there is an advantage to having to act last
and so each player gets his fair share of early, late and middle positions.
The Pot
Where all the bets and raises are collected. This is the pile of chips in the center
of the table. This is what all the players are playing for.
The Turn
The turn card is the 4th community card and is placed on the table after the betting
on the flop is complete. The betting on the turn is the third round of betting and
at twice the stakes of the first two rounds.
The River
The last round of betting and the last, 5th, community card. When the river card
is placed on the board, the dealing is done. When the betting on the river is complete
the hand is over and the pot is awarded.
Conduct of the Game
For each hand of Omaha-Hi/Lo the cards are shuffled, the dealer button is placed,
the blinds are posted and four cards are dealt face down to every active player
at the table beginning with the first player in a clockwise (to the left) direction
from the dealer button. These four cards are each player's hole/private cards.
Pre-Flop
Seats at poker tables are numbered from the dealer box in a clockwise direction.
In Texas Hold'em and in Omaha games there is an advantage in having a late position
at the table. The advantage is that players in late position get to act after players
in earlier positions and thus have information about the other players' intentions.
Because of this advantage the cards are dealt and action begins from a dealer button
that rotates around the table in a clockwise direction. This rotation takes the
blinds, early, middle, and late position to all players equally. After the cards
are dealt, the pre-flop betting action begins. On this round only, the betting begins
with the first player to the left (clockwise) from the big blind. On all subsequent
rounds the action begins with the first player to the left of the dealer button.
In limit Omaha Hi/Lo the big blind is equal to a small bet. The small blind is usually
1/3 to 2/3 of the big blind. In the game pictured above the stakes are $3/$6. The
big blind is $3, which is equal to a small bet and the small blind is $1, which
is equal to 1/3 of the big blind.
Pre-Flop all betting will be for the lower limit, which is $3. There is a limit
of one bet and three raises for all rounds.
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