Omaha Hi Low

How to play Omaha hi low.Omaha hi low is the world's second most popular poker game. One reasons for the popularity of Omaha hi low (also know as many variations of the name like Omaha 8 or better, Omaha high low, Omaha 8b, or Omaha high low split etc.) is that you are initially dealt four hole cards to play instead of just two as in Texas holdem, so players find a lot of hands to play. Creating a lot more action around the game. Lots of action equals bigger pots. Here we will be reviewing how to play Omaha hi low and basic strategy.

Basic Play
Omaha is a high low split game. Players start with four "down" cards. Players share five "community" cards (which are dealt face-up in the center of the table). You MUST use two and only two of your four "down" cards and three out of five "up" community cards to form your best hand (either for the high or low or both). There is no qualifying on the "High" side - the best high hand automatically wins half the pot and could win the whole pot if no low qualify. To win the "Low" side of the pot, however, you must qualify (which is why the game is named Omaha "8 or Better").

Usually there are two types of Omaha hi low games played:
Limit Omaha 8 or Better (there is a specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting) Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better (A player can bet what is in the pot.)



To Qualify for low
It takes a five-card hand with no card higher than an eight, and no two of those cards paired (different numerical values from Ace through eight, with the Ace being the lowest) to qualify for the "Low"and possibly half of the pot. Straights and flushes do not count against you for low. The best "Low" hand is A-2-3- 4- 5 (also known as the "wheel" or "bicycle"). The worst possible low 8-7-6-5-4. The winning "Low" hand goes to the player with the lowest high card. For example, if the board was A-3-4-K-9 and a player with hole cards 2-6-10-Q would have a better "Low" hand than someone with an 2-7-K-K. If two or more players have the same high card, the player with the second lowest card (or third, fourth, or fifth if necessary) in their hand wins the low side of the pot. Low hands can not have even a small pair such as 2-2 this would automatically qualify for the high only. This all sound harder than it really is. Here is a little tip to remember: If three unpaired cards are not on the board then there can not be a low and you could continue to play a normal 5 card high hand. Example: if the board was 2-2-3-3-2 no low is possible even though there are 3 cards lower than eight but non of them unpaired. Q: What would be the best low hand with a board of 2-7-J-10-6 ? Answer at the bottom of this page!

Betting
In Omaha the deal rotates clockwise with the use of a button (see glossary). Before the game begins the first two players seated to the left of the button must post blinds. Blinds are forced bets by the first two players directly to the left of the button. It is called a blind because the players must invest money in to the hand before they can look at there cards. The first player seated to the left of the button post (place in front of them) the small blind (bet). The small blind is usually but not always a bet half the size of the first betting amount. Example: If a game has a $2 -$4 structure. This means the first two rounds of betting bets and raises are $2 and the last 2 rounds, bets and raises are $4. The small blind here would be $1. The second player to the left of the button post the big blind usually equal to the amount of the first betting round. As in the example above it would be $2. After the blinds are posted four private cards one at a time are dealt face down (hole cards) to each player and then a round of betting begins again.

Hole Card
The structure and initial setup are almost exactly the same in Omaha as in Texas Holdem except the player is dealt four hole cards face down. This distinction is where Omaha differs from Holdem in that you are in Holdem allowed to use one, both,or neither of your hole cards in putting together your final hand. In Omaha you must use two and exactly two of the four cards in your hand, along with three and exactly three of the five community (board) cards. For example: in Holdem if the 5 community cards create a straight or a flush you can ignore your hole cards and play the 5 board cards as your final hand or include one or both hole cards to improve the hand for a higher flush or straight. Often all the active players if there hand is beat will play the board and end up splitting the pot because all end up with the same hand.
In Omaha that flush or straight on the board does not give you a flush or straight unless two of the four cards in your hand allow you to complete a flush or straight. For example: If the board (community cards) is J-8-9-10-7 and your hole cards are A-6-7-A you will use your 6-7 and the 8-9-10 for a 10 high straight even though initially you where playing your Pair of Aces. This might not be the highest hand and win the pot but it is still a playable hand. Since the board does not have three small cards 8 or under there is now qualifying low.

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First Round of Betting
In limit Omaha there are four rounds of betting. The first player to act is the player seated the left of the big blind. Technically since the first two players where required to bet via the blinds. They acted first and second but the first player to bet and make a voluntary decision is the third player. (Note: After the first round of betting the player to the left of the button is to act first). This is where the player will take extreme precautions to look at there cards privately (for online poker this is not required ) and begin assessing the strength of there hand. This player can stay in the game by either calling (matching) the big blinds bet, or raising (double the big blinds bet) by the unit structure or fold by releasing there two cards to the dealer face down. The next players to act has the same three options. This continues until all players have made a decision The players that posted blinds also have the option to raise the bet. The small blind may stay in this round only by adding an additional bet bringing his total equal to the big blind or the amount of all raises. In Omaha there are so many possibilities the pot begins to grow quit fast.
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The Flop - Second Round of Betting
The first round is over and the second begins with the dealer placing 3 face up community cards in the middle of the table (or screen for online poker). This action is called the flop just as in Holdem. These cards may be used by all players for the duration of the of this round to create there best hand with there 2 out of 4 hole cards (private cards).The first player to the left of the button that hasn't folded acts first. Betting begins again in the same fashion as the first round. They may bet call, raise or fold.
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The Turn - Third Round of Betting
The third round of betting begins with the dealer placing another (fourth card) community card in the center of the table called the turn card or fourth street. The betting increment now have been doubled. The Betting starts all over again starting the first player to the left of the button that hasn't folded acts first again. This card either helped or it did not and the player must assess their hand again to determine weather they should bet, call, raise or fold there hand.
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The River - Fourth and Final Round of Betting
The fourth round of betting begins with the dealer placing the final (fifth card) community card in the center of the table called the river. Again each player must assess their hand again to determine weather they should bet, call, raise or fold there hand. After all betting is complete and the remaining players must reveal (the showdown) there hands by placing there four private cards face up in front of them. Although many players can quickly know that they won or have been beaten, the dealer will determine the pot winner (all the chips from the four rounds of betting or 1/2 if a low qualifies). Omaha is sometimes hard to quickly determine the winner or split do to the murid of winning combinations. Do not always rely on the dealer for they may have made a mistake. Always review your opponents hands to determine the winner for yourself.