Omaha Hi/Lo Poker

Omaha Hi/Lo is almost the same as regular Omaha Poker, except that the pot is split between a high hand (the same as in ordinary Omaha) and a low hand (based on five cards, which are numbered eight or below - (see our page on Rank of Hands for more information).

In Omaha Hi/Lo, players are dealt four 'hole' cards face down, and five 'community' cards are dealt to the table. These are cards that everyone can see and use. Each player is required to use two of their hole cards, as well as three of the community cards, as part of their five card hand.

The game is split into four rounds of betting, which moves around the table in a clockwise direction. The betting begins from the position directly next to the dealer button, and moves one place to the left after each hand. In online Omaha Hi/Lo games, the ‘real’ dealer is replaced by the dealer button.

If two or more players are holding and equally-strong winning five-card hand, and are tied, the pot is then split between the tying players. If there is an odd chip remaining, it will be given to the player who is the winner of the high hand. At ZyngaPlusPoker.co.uk the odd chip has a value of 1 cent.

Prior to the start of the game, the two players in positions to the left of the dealer post 'blind' bets, called such because they are made prior to the players having seen any cards. The blinds are to guarantee that there is some money in the pot to play for in the beginning stages of the game.

The player in the first position to the left of the dealer posts the 'small blind', and the player to his left, in the second position, posts the 'big blind'.

Each player is dealt four cards, called ‘hole’ cards, that only they can see. After this, the first round of betting begins by the first player in the position to the left of the big blind. This player, known as 'under the gun', can: 

Call

Bet an amount equal to the amount that was bet in the big blind,

Raise

increase the amount that was bet, or

Fold

Give-up his cards and forfeit his stake in the game.

Eventually the betting returns to the player who made the big blind (the first full bet). That player can choose to stay in the game without adding anything further to the pot, called ‘check’. However, if an opponent has already raised, the big blind player has three options open to him: he must fold, call, or re-raise.

Three 'community' cards are dealt face-up on the table. These cards are viewed by all players and shared to make their five-card hand. A second round of betting then follows.

A fourth card is dealt face up on the table on the turn. The third round of betting then follows. 

The fifth community card is now dealt. This is the final card dealt and is then followed by the final round of betting.

If there is more than one player remaining in the game, the game moves to a showdown. At this point, the remaining players turn-up their cards and the player who has the highest hand wins half the pot and the player with the lowest low hand wins the other half. It is possible for the same player to have both the best high hand and the best low hand. However, if there are no players with a low hand, then the player with the highest hand wins the entire pot.