Omaha Hi/Lo Poker
Owing to its frequently large pots, Omaha Hi/Lo (also called ‘Omaha High Low’, ‘Omaha H/L’, ‘Omaha/8’ or ‘Omaha 9️⃣ 8-or-better’) has become a hugely popular game around the world. Each player in an Omaha Hi/Lo game is dealt four 9️⃣ private cards (‘hole cards’) that belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the ‘board’. All 9️⃣ players use exactly two cards from their four hole cards in conjunction with exactly three cards from the board to 9️⃣ make the best five-card poker hand possible. The pot is divided between the best hand for high and the best 9️⃣ hand for low - hence the name, Omaha Hi/Lo. You may use different combinations of two cards from your hand 9️⃣ to make your high hand and your low hand, but in each hand you must use precisely two from your 9️⃣ hand and three from the board - no more, no less. Visit the poker hands page to view the rankings 9️⃣ of hands in Omaha Hi/Lo.
Omaha Hi/Lo is played with an ‘8-or-better’ qualifier, which means that a low hand must consist 9️⃣ of five different cards - ranked eight or below - to be eligible to win the low portion of the 9️⃣ pot. Low hands in Omaha Hi/Lo are determined in exactly the same way they're determined in 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo. 9️⃣ If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins the entire pot. Omaha Hi/Lo uses the ‘Ace to 9️⃣ Five’ or ‘California’ system for ranking low hands. Straights and flushes do not count against a hand, and Aces are 9️⃣ always low in reading the low hand, so the best possible hand is a "wheel": 5, 4, 3, 2, A. 9️⃣ To help understand the ranks of low hands, the following sample qualifying low hands (not a complete list) are ranked 9️⃣ from least powerful (#1, will rarely win the low half of the pot) to most powerful (#10, the nuts):
8, 7, 9️⃣ 6, 5, 4 8, 7, 6, 5, 3 8, 6, 4, 2, A 8, 4, 3, 2, A 7, 6, 9️⃣ 5, 4, 2 7, 6, 5, 2, A 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 6, 4, 9️⃣ 3, 2, A 5, 4, 3, 2, A
Note that a low hand is always ranked from its highest card downwards. 9️⃣ So for example, hand #9 is known as a ‘Six-low’ because its highest card is a Six. Hand #5 is 9️⃣ a ‘Seven-low’, and Hand #1 is an ‘Eight-low’. In poker slang, you distinguish between close low hands by going further 9️⃣ down the ranks, so hand #9 would be called a ‘Six-Four low’, which beats hand #8, a ‘Six-Five low’. Also 9️⃣ remember that straights and flushes do not count against your low hand, so making a qualifying low that is also 9️⃣ a straight or a flush is a very powerful hand, that could win both the high and low halves of 9️⃣ the pot. That’s called a ‘scoop’.
Types of Omaha Hi/Lo Games
Omaha Hi/Lo can be played in the following formats:
Limit Omaha Hi/Lo 9️⃣ - Specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting.
- Specific betting limit applied in each 9️⃣ game and on each round of betting. Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo - Bets are limited to the amount of chips 9️⃣ in the pot.
- Bets are limited to the amount of chips in the pot. No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo - A 9️⃣ player can bet all of the chips he has available.
- A player can bet all of the chips he has 9️⃣ available. Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo - The game alternates between rounds of Limit and Pot-Limit. The blinds are increased when the 9️⃣ game switches from Pot-Limit to Limit, to ensure that the stake levels are consistent.
Rules for Playing Omaha Hi/Lo
In Omaha Hi/Lo, 9️⃣ a marker called ‘the button’ or ‘the dealer button’ indicates which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. 9️⃣ Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise from the button posts the ‘small blind’, the first forced bet. The 9️⃣ player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the ‘big blind’, which is typically twice the size of the small 9️⃣ blind, but the blinds can vary depending on the stakes and betting structure being played. In Limit games, the big 9️⃣ blind is the same as the small bet, and the small blind is typically half the size of the big 9️⃣ blind but may be larger depending on the stakes. For example, in aR$2/$4 Limit game the small blind isR$1 and 9️⃣ the big blind isR$2. In aR$15/$30 Limit game, the small blind isR$10 and the big blind isR$15. In Pot Limit 9️⃣ and No Limit games, the games are referred to by the size of their blinds (for example, aR$1/$2 Omaha Hi/Lo 9️⃣ game has a small blind ofR$1 and a big blind ofR$2). Now, each player receives their four hole cards. Betting 9️⃣ action proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with the player ‘under the gun’ (immediately clockwise from the big blind).
Pre-Flop
After seeing 9️⃣ his or her hole cards, each player now has the option to play his or her hand by calling or 9️⃣ raising the big blind. The action begins to the left of the big blind, which is considered a ‘live’ bet 9️⃣ on this round. That player has the option to fold, call or raise. For example, if the big blind wasR$2, 9️⃣ it would costR$2 to call, or at leastR$4 to raise. Action then proceeds clockwise around the table. Note: The betting 9️⃣ structure varies with different variations of the game. Explanations of the betting action in Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, No Limit Omaha 9️⃣ Hi/Lo, and Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo can be found below. Betting continues on each betting round until all active players 9️⃣ (who have not folded) have placed equal bets in the pot.
The Flop
After the first round of betting is complete, the 9️⃣ ‘flop’ is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. 9️⃣ Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. Another round of betting ensues. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, 9️⃣ all bets and raises on the flop are in increments of the small bet (for example,R$2 in aR$2/$4 game).
The Turn
When 9️⃣ betting action is completed for the flop round, the ‘turn’ is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the 9️⃣ fourth community card in an Omaha Hi/Lo game. Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. Another 9️⃣ round of betting ensues. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, bets and raises on the turn are in increments of the big 9️⃣ bet (for example,R$4 in aR$2/$4 game).
The River
When betting action is completed for the turn round, the ‘river’ is dealt face-up 9️⃣ on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in an Omaha Hi/Lo game. Betting begins with 9️⃣ the active player immediately clockwise from the button. A final betting round ensues.
The Showdown
If there is more than one remaining 9️⃣ player when the final betting round is complete, the last person to bet or raise shows their cards, unless there 9️⃣ was no bet on the final round in which case the player immediately clockwise from the button shows their cards 9️⃣ first. The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best 9️⃣ five-card hand for low wins the other half. Remember, in all Omaha games, players must use two (and only two) 9️⃣ of their four hole cards in combination with exactly three cards from the board. In the event of identical hands, 9️⃣ the high and low shares of the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. In 9️⃣ the event that no hand qualifies for low (i.e. is an ‘eight low’ or better), the best hand(s) for high 9️⃣ wins the whole pot. After the pot is awarded, a new Omaha Hi/Lo game is ready to be played. The 9️⃣ button now moves clockwise to the next player.
Limit, Pot Limit, No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
Omaha Hi/Lo rules remain the same for 9️⃣ Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit poker games, with a few exceptions:
Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
Betting in Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is in 9️⃣ pre-determined, structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all bets and raises are of the same amount as the big 9️⃣ blind. On the turn and the river, the size of all bets and raises doubles. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, up 9️⃣ to four bets are allowed per player during each betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, 9️⃣ and (4) cap (final raise).
Betting in Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is in pre-determined, structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all 9️⃣ bets and raises are of the same amount as the big blind. On the turn and the river, the size 9️⃣ of all bets and raises doubles. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, up to four bets are allowed per player during each 9️⃣ betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise). Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
The 9️⃣ minimum bet in Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can 9️⃣ always bet up to the size of the pot.
Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as 9️⃣ any previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act betsR$5 then 9️⃣ the second player must raise a minimum ofR$5 (total bet ofR$10).
Maximum raise: The size of the pot, which is defined 9️⃣ as the total of the active pot, plus all bets on the table, plus the amount the active player must 9️⃣ first call before raising.
Example: If the size of the pot isR$100, and there is no previous action on a particular 9️⃣ betting round, a player may bet a maximum ofR$100. After that bet, the action moves to the next player clockwise. 9️⃣ That player can either fold, callR$100, or raise any amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum. The maximum 9️⃣ bet in this case isR$400 - the raiser would first callR$100, bringing the pot size toR$300, and then raiseR$300 more, 9️⃣ making a total bet ofR$400.
In Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.
The minimum 9️⃣ bet in Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always 9️⃣ bet up to the size of the pot. Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as 9️⃣ any previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act betsR$5 then 9️⃣ the second player must raise a minimum ofR$5 (total bet ofR$10). Maximum raise: The size of the pot, which is 9️⃣ defined as the total of the active pot, plus all bets on the table, plus the amount the active player 9️⃣ must first call before raising. Example: If the size of the pot isR$100, and there is no previous action on 9️⃣ a particular betting round, a player may bet a maximum ofR$100. After that bet, the action moves to the next 9️⃣ player clockwise. That player can either fold, callR$100, or raise any amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum. 9️⃣ The maximum bet in this case isR$400 - the raiser would first callR$100, bringing the pot size toR$300, and then 9️⃣ raiseR$300 more, making a total bet ofR$400. In Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of 9️⃣ raises allowed. No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
The minimum bet in No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is the same as the size of 9️⃣ the big blind, but players can always bet as much more as they want, up to all of their chips.
Minimum 9️⃣ raise: In No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, the raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or 9️⃣ raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act betsR$5 then the second player must 9️⃣ raise a minimum ofR$5 (total bet ofR$10).
Maximum raise: The size of your stack (your chips on the table).
In No Limit 9️⃣ Omaha Hi/Lo, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.
On the PokerStars software, it’s not possible to bet 9️⃣ less than the minimum or more than the maximum. The bet slider and bet window will only allow you to 9️⃣ bet amounts within the allowed thresholds. Omaha Hi/Lo is growing very fast in popularity, especially with the exposure of online 9️⃣ poker. So while learning the rules of Omaha Hi/Lo can take some getting used to, it is an entertaining poker 9️⃣ variant that many players have learned to enjoy.
Learn How to Play Omaha Hi/Lo for Free
