Omaha Hi Lo Poker Beginners Guide

Omaha Hi Lo is a popular community poker format that uses the basic rules and principles of Omaha poker whilst giving players additional opportunities to win a share the pot. This is done by allowing players holding low hands (poker hands with no card higher than the opportunity to claim part of the pot.

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How to Play Omaha Hi Lo Poker

Omaha Hi Lo poker is a community card game, which means players are required to put together winning poker hands from four cards dealt to them and a spread of five community cards.

The first player to receive cards during a game of Omaha Hi Lo poker is designated the small blind, and this player is required to stake a minimum bet. The player to the left of the small blind, known as the big blind, is then required to double this bet, initiating the first round of betting. The blinds shift one player to the left for each new game.

A game of Omaha Hi Lo poker can take up to four rounds to complete.

Once the players have checked their cards and the small and big blinds have posted their bets, the game commences:

• The first round of betting takes place as the players place bets on the four cards dealt to them.
• Once the first round of betting has been concluded, the dealer will lay out the flop, the first three community cards. This is followed by the second round of betting.
• The dealer will then lay down the turn, the fourth community card, thereby initiating the third round of betting.
• The final round of betting takes place once the dealer has laid down the fifth community card, or river. This is followed by the showdown as the remaining players compare cards.

Players may employ one of four different betting options during any round of betting.

• A player may call a bet by equalling the stake paid into the pot by the last player to bet.
• Players wishing to pressurise opponents or increase the pot may raise by calling the last player’s bet and then increasing the amount staked. The remaining players must then call this bet to remain in the game.
• If a betting reaches a player without any previous player having placed a bet, the player may check but choosing not to place any money in the pot.
• A player may fold at any stage, returning the cards to the dealer face down.

Every game of Omaha Hi Lo essentially involves two separate games. The first objective for any player is to put together the strongest possible poker hand. However, if players have been dealt a series of low cards, they have the option of putting together a low hand featuring a run of five different numbers lower than 9 (i.e. 8-6-4-3-A). The lowest qualifying hand value wins half of the pot. If there is no qualifying low hand, the strongest hand wins the entire pot.

Omaha Hi Lo can be played in no limit, limit and pot limit formats.