Omaha High/Low is played in exactly
the same manner as a regular game of Omaha
High. However, in Omaha High/Low, the
pot is split 50-50 between the best high
hand and the best qualifying low hand,
consisting of 5 cards of different values
ranked 8 or lower.
Straights and flushes are not counted
against you when evaluating a low hand.
However, they still apply for evaluating
the high hand. Aces can be used both for
high and low hands. Therefore, the best
possible low hand is A, 2, 3, 4, and 5,
which is also a straight for the high
hand. It is possible for a player to scoop
the entire pot with both the highest and
lowest hands.
THE BUY-IN
You must buy-in a minimum amount of chips
when sitting down at your chosen table.
The minimum limit is equal to ten times
the lower bet limit of the game. For example
on a $3/$6 table the minimum buy-in is
$30, on a $10/$20 table the minimum buy-in
is $100.
THE GAME
Omaha High/Low uses a disc called a dealer
button to indicate where the cards are
to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two
players to the left of the button place
live bets called the small and big blinds.
It is called a blind because players must
pay this amount before seeing their cards.
It's called live because it counts as
part of any further bets in the first
betting round.
The play begins with four cards dealt
facedown to each player. Action starts
with a betting round beginning with the
player to the left of the blind bets and
continuing clockwise around the table.
Players may bet, check, raise or fold
in turn. The big blind has the privilege
of last action and may check or raise
the bet.
Three community cards called "The
Flop" are then dealt up in the center
of the table and another betting round
takes place beginning with the player
to the left of the dealer button. Another
card is dealt face up (called "The
Turn") followed by a round of betting.
The fifth and last card called "The
River" is dealt face up and a final
round of betting takes place. Players
remaining in the hand will then show their
cards and the winning poker hand will
be awarded the pot. Players must form
their best five-card poker hand from only
two of their four pocket cards and any
three of five community cards.
SIT DOWN
From 6 to 10 players plus a dealer are
seated around a table.
DEALER BUTTON
In front of one of the players is a round
disc or button. This disc determines the
order of betting (posting the blinds)
and moves to the left one player at a
time, after each hand.
POST BLINDS
Before the cards are dealt at the beginning
of each hand, the two players directly
to the left of the dealer button must
post "blinds". To post a blind
is to place a bet before getting cards.
The player to the immediate left of the
dealer button posts the "small blind,"
equal to half of the minimum bet (Example:
$5 for a $10/$20 game). The player to
the left of the small blind posts the
"big blind," equal to the amount
of the minimum bet (Example: $10 for a
$10/$20 game).
POCKET CARDS
Once the blinds have been posted, the
first round of cards is dealt. These consist
of four cards face down to each player
and are called the "pocket cards".
Each player can see his or her own pocket
cards.
Then the first round of betting takes
place, beginning with the player immediately
to the left of the big blind and continuing
in a clockwise direction around the table.
BETTING
Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes.
For example, in a $3/$6 table, bets are
$3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the
last two. The bet amount can climb a maximum
of 3 times in each round of betting. In
other words, there can be one bet and
three raises in each round.
THE FLOP CARDS
Next, three cards are dealt face up in
the middle of the table. These cards are
called the "Flop". All three
cards are "community" cards
and can be used by all the players at
the table to make up their best possible
hand.
After the flop is dealt, a second round
of betting takes place, again beginning
with the player immediately to the left
of the dealer button. All subsequent rounds
of betting begin with the player to left
of the dealer button.
THE TURN CARD
Following the flop, a fourth "community"
card is dealt face up in the middle of
the table. This card is called the "Turn"
card and can also be used by all players.
It is followed by a third round of betting.
THE RIVER CARD
Finally, a fifth and final "community"
card is dealt face up in the middle of
the table. It is called the "River"
card and is followed by a fourth and final
round of betting.
SHOWDOWN
Once all betting is complete, players
determine the best five-card high or low
hand that they can make from two of their
four pocket cards and three of the five
community cards. In Omaha High/Low the
pot is split 50-50 between the best high
hand and the best qualifying low hand,
consisting of 5 cards of different values
ranked 8 or lower.
Straights and flushes are not counted
against you when evaluating a low hand.
However, they still apply for evaluating
the high hand. Aces can be used both for
high and low hands. Therefore, the best
possible low hand is A, 2, 3, 4, and 5,
which is also a straight for the high
hand. It is possible for a player to scoop
the entire pot with both the highest and
lowest hands. Four of these cards will
be in their own possession and dealt as
down cards, and five will be face up as
community cards to be shared by all players.
Therefore, if a player is dealt four kings
down, only two of the kings count toward
the final hand. The remaining three cards
must come from the community cards. The
player with the best five-card hand and
the player with the qualifying best low
hand share the pot evenly. Should multiple
hands tie, the pot is split with any odd
amount going to the player immediately
to the left of the dealer. The "button"
is moved clockwise around the table so
that every player can benefit from the
advantage of being last to act once per
round. Like Hold'em, position is an important
advantage with the player on the button
being in the best position possible
START AGAIN
After a hand is completed and the pot
taken by the winner, the dealer button
is moved one player to the left and the
next hand begins.
