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
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.
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