Omaha Hi/Lo Poker Rules

Omaha Hi/Lo is very similar to regular Omaha, but the pot is split between a high hand (the same as in ordinary Omaha) and a low hand (which is based on five cards, which start at eight or below - see our Rank of Hands page for more information).

Players receive four 'hole' cards that only they can see, and five 'community' cards that everyone can see and use. Each player must use two of their hole cards, as well as three of the community cards, to make their hand.

The game is divided into four rounds of betting, and the betting moves clockwise around the table. Betting starts from the position next to the dealer button, which moves one place to the left after each hand. In online games, the dealer button replaces the 'real' dealer.

The Blinds

Before a game starts, the two players to the left of the dealer post 'blind' bets, so-called because they are made before the players have seen any cards. The blinds ensure that there is some money in the pot to play for at the very start of the game. The player to the left of the dealer posts the 'small blind', and the player to his left posts the 'big blind'.

Pre-Flop

Each player receives four cards that only they can see, called 'hole' cards. After this, the first round of betting is started by the first player to the left of the big blind. This player, who is known as 'under the gun', can:

Call

match the amount bet in the big blind,

 

Raise

increase the amount bet, or

 

Fold

surrender his cards and stake in the game.

When the betting returns to the player who made the big blind (the first full bet), that player can 'check' or opt to stay in the game without adding anything to the pot. However, if an opponent has raised, the big blind has three options: he must fold, call, or re-raise.

The Flop

Three 'community' cards, which all players can use to make their five-card hand, are dealt face up on the table. A second round of betting follows.

The Turn

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

The River

The fifth and final community card is dealt, followed by the final round of betting.

The Showdown

If there is more than one player left in the game, there is a showdown. At this point, the players reveal their cards and the highest card wins half the pot and the lowest low hand wins the other half. The same player can have both the best high and low hands. However, if none of the players has a low hand, then the highest hand wins the entire pot.