Omaha High Low
Poker
Omaha High Low and regular Omaha are
basically the same, with one exception that makes for a big
change in strategy. The premise for Omaha Hi/Lo is that there
are two winning hands for each game: the strongest (highest)
hand, and the weakest (lowest) hand split the pot.
Omaha High Low itself is still played the same as regular Omaha,
with each player starting with 4 "Pocket Cards" face down. 5
community cards are then dealt face up, and the highest and
lowest hand split the pot. As with Omaha the winning hand must
contain 2 pocket cards, and 3 community cards.
Here's where things get interesting. For a hand to qualify as a
low hand, it can't have any card higher than an 8. Because Aces
count both as a high card and as a low card, the best possible
low hand is A, 2, 3, 4 and 5.You're probably thinking, "Isn't that a straight?" And you'd be
right, except that in Omaha High Low, any hand that qualifies
for the low is not affected by straights or flushes. This
creates an interesting situation: You can qualify for both the
highest and the lowest hand in a game! If you win both, you will
take the whole pot.
So, let's say it's your lucky day, and you've been dealt the A &
2 of spades, and the community cards hold the 3,4 & 5 of Spades.
Your straight flush will (most likely) take the high hand, and
because neither straights nor flushes count in the low hand
ranking, you've got the best possible low hand. Congratulations,
you've just "scooped the pot," taking 100%!
Now, to determine the highest hand we'll use the standard hand
rankings, which can be viewed on our Hand Rankings page. To
determine the best low hand, the highest low card is used. If
two players share the same high card, then the next lowest card
is used, and so on.
If there are no hands qualifying as a low hand (i.e. every hand
holds a card higher than an 8), the highest hand will take the
whole pot.
The rest of the game play is the same as regular Omaha...
Basic Rules for Omaha High Low
There are three different types of Omaha High Low, with the only
difference between them being the amounts and limits available
for each betting round. In a Fixed Limit game, both the
bet and raise amounts for each round are a preset amount. For
example, in a $5/$10 Fixed game, both the bets and raises for
the first two rounds of betting must be $5, no more, no less.
The last 2 rounds have a bet/raise amount of $10.
In a Pot Limit Game, the
maximum bet/raise can't be more than the current pot amount. So,
if the pot is $30, you can't bet more than $30. One thing to
note: If you are raising on a player's bet, your call is already
included in the pot. So, for example, let's say the pot is $100.
Player X opens the betting with $100. Your maximum bet is now
$300 (Pot = Initial $100 + Player X's $100 + your $100)
The final game type is
No Limit.
The name says it all; there are no maximum bet limits. You can
bet as much as you like during any round of betting, with the
minimum bet the same as the big blind amount. No Limit Omaha
High Low
makes for some pretty big pots, and lots of action.
Now that you've chosen a game type,
it's time to talk about 3 other betting concepts... The Stakes,
The Cap, and The Blinds.
The Stakes: The stakes are tied
directly to the game type you select. For a Fixed Limit game,
the stakes dictate the bet and raise amount for each round.
Let's use our $5/$10 stakes example again. In the first two
rounds of betting, both the bet and the raise must be $5, no
more, no less. The last 2 rounds have a bet/raise amount of $10.
The Cap: In a fixed limit game, each
round of betting can consist of one bet and has a maximum of
three of allowable raises, known as the cap. So, if a bet is
made, that bet can only be raised three times, after which all
players must call, or fold. However, if only two players remain
in the hand the cap is increased, to a maximum of 5 raises.
In both the Pot Limit and No Limit
games, the stakes represent the amounts posted as the blinds.
More on the blinds next...
The Blinds: The blinds are mandatory
bets posted by two players at the start of each hand, before any
cards are dealt. The player directly to the left of the dealer
posts the small blind, which in a fixed limit game is half the
small stake, rounded down to the nearest dollar, and in pot
limit/no limit games is equal to the small stake. The player to
the left of him posts the big blind, which in a fixed game is
equal to the small stake, and in pot limit/no limit games the
big stake.
Sound complicated? It really isn't.
Let's use our trusty $5/$10 stakes again. In a fixed limit game,
the small blind posts $2 (half of $5 rounded down). The big
blind posts $5. In a $5/$10 pot limit/no limit game, the small
blind posts $5, and the big blind posts $10.
In High Low we use blinds as an
incentive for players to play a hand, and build the pot.
Consider the blinds like a mandatory bet and raise; any players
that want to play the hand must match the big blind to stay in.
The blinds are considered live bets, so when the action goes
around the table and returns to them, they have the option of
checking, calling, raising or folding as they see fit.
The Dealer: After each hand the deal
moves clockwise to the next player, who becomes the dealer for
that hand. This player is considered to be "on the button," and
is the last person to act in the betting round. The first player
to the left of the button is the first player to be dealt cards,
and is the first player to act in each betting round.
The Gameplay:OK, let's play some Omaha High Low. You've bought in to a table, sat down
and posted your big blind. What's next?
Pre Flop...The Pocket Cards: (AKA
the Hole Cards). The dealer deals each player 4 cards face down.
Only the player can see his/her hole cards. After the deal, the
next player after the big blind decides whether to call, raise
or fold the big blind. Each player in turn is given these
options, until all bets are called and the big blind checks.
Don't forget, in a fixed limit game, any raises are limited to
the lower stake amount, and in a pot limit game, the bet can't
exceed the pot amount.
The Flop: Now the dealer turns over
the first three community cards, called "the flop". All betting
rounds start with the player directly to the dealers left. For
fixed limit games, this round of betting still uses the lower
stake, so in our example $5/$10 game, any bets or raises must be
$5. The pot limit and no limit rules don't change.
The Turn: (AKA Fourth Street). The
fourth community card is dealt, and a new betting round begins.
The bet amount for fixed limit games increases to the upper
stake. Betting continues until all bets are called.
The River: Here the final community
card is shown, and the last round of betting takes place. The
bet amount for fixed limit games is still the big stake.
The Showdown: All the bets have been
called, it's time to show the cards. The last player to bet or
raise during the final betting round will show their hand first.
If all the players checked through (nobody bet) the river, the
player to the left of the dealer will show first. The remaining
players' hands will be automatically revealed moving clockwise,
unless a hand is weaker than the winning hand shown. In this
case, you'll have the option to show, or muck (fold without
showing). The best five card hand takes the pot. Remember, a
winning Omaha High Low hand must use 2 hole cards and 3 of the community
cards to make the hand. For a complete list of hand rankings,
please consult the
poker hand
rankings page.
Buying the pot: If during a betting
round you make a bet and all players fold to you, you've bought
the pot. You have the option to show or muck your cards.
Uneven split pot: If the pot doesn't
split evenly, the player with the high hand takes the extra
chips.
The best way to learn to play poker is of course to actually
play it, and you can start practicing your poker skills right
now, for free at any of our recommended
online poker rooms.
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