The following Omaha Hi-Lo article is intended to help poker players learn how to play Omaha Hi-Lo Poker. Omaha Hi-Lo is played in the same manner as Omaha Holdem, except the strongest hand and weakest hand may both split the pot. However, in order to qualify for the lowest hand, a player must be able to create a 5-card hand that contains no cards or combinations (such as pairs or trips) higher than a value of 8 - Straights and Flushes are not counted as combinations in a Omaha Lo hand.

I'll start by listing a few general poker terms that you'll need to become familiar with before playing Omaha Hi-Lo. Then we'll cover more detailed Omaha Hi-Lo rules and order of play.

General Terms

Dealer Button: A button denoting the assumed dealer position. This player does not actually deal the cards, the house does.

Small Blind: A forced wager of a predetermined amount placed by the player seated left of the dealer button. The amount of the small blind is usually half of the table's minimum bet limit. For example, in a fixed limit game of $1/$2 Omaha Hold'em, the small blind is $0.50.

Big Blind: A forced wager of a predetermined amount placed by the player seated left of the small blind. The amount of the big blind is usually equal to the table's minimum bet limit, twice the small blind. For example, in a fixed limit game of $1/$2 Omaha Hi-Lo, the big blind is $1.

Qualifier: A predetermined requirement for the strength of weakness of a poker hand in order to qualify for play. In Omaha Hi-Lo, there is an '8-Qualifier' in order to be eligible to win the 'low' pot. A player must be able to end with a hand of 5 cards, none higher than 8 and no combinations (pair, 3 of a kind, etc). Straights and flushes do not count as combinations.

Betting Structure

Omaha Hi-Lo Poker consists of 4 betting rounds. Below is a list of betting terms and options available to each player during a hand of Omaha Hi-Lo Poker. Bet: A wager placed by adding chips to the pot.

Call: A wager placed that is equal to the previous bet.

Raise: A wager placed that is higher than the previous bet.

Check: Choosing not to place a wager, but remaining active in the current hand. A player may only check if no other player has placed a bet in the current betting round.

All In: Placing all remaining chips into the pot. By declaring "all in", the player may only win from each player an amount that is equal to his own bet.

Fold: Choosing not to continue participation in the current hand by turning in his cards to the dealer. Any chips placed into the pot during the current hand will be lost.

How to Play Omaha Hi-Lo Poker

Omaha Hi-Lo is an interesting variation of Omaha Holdem in which the strongest and weakest hand may both be winners. 2 to 10 players may join in a game, where each player receives 9 cards to create the strongest, or weakest, 5-card poker hand. At the beginning of play, 4 cards are dealt to each player face down. Throughout the hand, 5 more cards will be dealt face up in the middle of the table. These are "community cards".

By combining 2 of the player's 4 face down cards with 3 of the community cards, players attempt to create the strongest poker hand to win. The player with the lowest hand may also win, but he must meet the '8-qualifier' requirements. An 8-qualifier requires a 5-card poker hand with no card higher than 8 and no combinations (pair, 3 of a kind, etc). Note that straights and flushes are not counted as combinations in an Omaha Lo hand.

If a player qualifies to win the lo hand, he will split the pot with the highest winner. If no player qualifies for a lo hand, the strongest hand wins the entire pot.

Omaha Hi-Lo Rules - Order of Play

Dealer Button is placed next to a player denoting dealer position. Note that when playing online Omaha Hi-Lo Poker, the dealer button is only a symbol to determine order of play. The house dealer will deal the cards.

Blind Bets are placed by the small blind bettor, directly left of the dealer button, and the big blind bettor, left of the small blind.

The Deal commences, dealing 4 cards to each player face down, beginning with the small blind bettor.

First Betting Round begins, starting with the player left of the big blind, who may call the big blind, raise or fold. If no raise is made by a player before betting comes around to the dealer button, blind bettors, will have the option to raise.

The Flop reveals 3 community cards, dealt in the center of the table.

Second Betting Round begins, starting with the small blind bettor.

The Turn reveals 1 more community card, totaling 4 community cards.

Third Betting Round begins, starting with the small blind bettor.

The River reveals a 5th and final community card.

Last Betting Round begins, starting with the small blind bettor.

The Showdown. Each player will reveal his face down cards. Combining 2 of the 4 cards in a players' hand with the 3 of the 5 community cards, the player with the strongest 5-card poker hand is declared a winner. If any player qualifies for a low hand, that player will also be declared winner, and both will split the pot. If no low hand qualifies, the winner with the strongest 5-card hand will claim the entire pot.

Best Places To Play Omaha Hi-Low Poker Online

Below you will find a listing of the best poker sites to play Omaha Poker On Line. Each of these internet poker rooms also have a poker school where you can learn tips and strategies of each of the games they offer on their site.

Information coming soon.

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