How to Play Omaha Hi/Lo?

Due to its often substantial pots, Omaha Hi/Lo (also known as 'Omaha High Low', 'Omaha H/L', 'Omaha/8', or 'Omaha 8-or-better') has become an immensely popular game worldwide.

In an Omaha Hi/Lo game, each player is dealt four private cards ('hole cards') that belong solely to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the 'board'.

All players must use exactly two cards from their four hole cards in combination with exactly three cards from the board to create the best possible five-card poker hand. The pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand - hence the name, Omaha Hi/Lo. You may use different combinations of two cards from your hand to form your high hand and your low hand, but in each hand, you must use precisely two from your hand and three from the board - no more, no less.

Omaha Hi/Lo is played with an '8-or-better' qualifier, meaning that a low hand must consist of five different cards - ranked eight or below - to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot. Low hands in Omaha Hi/Lo are determined in exactly the same way as in 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Omaha Hi/Lo uses the 'Ace to Five' or 'California' system for ranking low hands. Straights and flushes do not count against a hand, and Aces are always low in reading the low hand, so the best possible hand is a "wheel": 5 4 3 2 A . To help understand the ranks of low hands, the following sample qualifying low hands (not a complete list) are ranked from least powerful (#1, will rarely win the low half of the pot) to most powerful (#10, the nuts):

1. 8 7 6 5 4
2. 8 7 6 5 3
3. 8 6 4 2 A
4. 8 4 3 2 A
5. 7 6 5 4 2
6. 7 6 5 2 A
7. 7 5 4 3 2
8. 6 5 4 3 2
9. 6 4 3 2 A
10. 5 4 3 2 A

Note that a low hand is always ranked from its highest card downwards. For example, hand #9 is known as a 'Six-low' because its highest card is a Six. Hand #5 is a 'Seven-low', and Hand #1 is an 'Eight-low'. In poker slang, you distinguish between close low hands by going further down the ranks, so hand #9 would be called a 'Six-Four low', which beats hand #8, a 'Six-Five low'.

Also, remember that straights and flushes do not count against your low hand, so making a qualifying low that is also a straight or a flush is a very powerful hand that could win both the high and low halves of the pot. That's called a 'scoop'.

Types of Omaha Hi/Lo Games
Omaha Hi/Lo can be played in the following formats:

• Limit Omaha Hi/Lo: a specific betting limit is applied in each game and on each round of betting.
• Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo: bets are limited to the amount of chips in the pot.
• No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo: а player can bet all of the chips they have available.
• Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo: the game alternates between rounds of Limit and Pot-Limit. The blinds are increased when the game switches from Pot-Limit to Limit to ensure that the stake levels are consistent.

Rules for Playing Omaha Hi/Lo
In Omaha Hi/Lo, a marker called 'the button' or 'the dealer button' indicates which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise from the button posts the 'small blind', the first forced bet. The player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the 'big blind', which is typically twice the size of the small blind, but the blinds can vary depending on the stakes and betting structure being played.

• In Limit games, the big blind is the same as the small bet, and the small blind is typically half the size of the big blind but may be larger depending on the stakes. For example, in a $2/$4 Limit game, the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2. In a $15/$30 Limit game, the small blind is $10 and the big blind is $15.
• In Pot Limit and No Limit games, the games are referred to by the size of their blinds (for example, a $1/$2 Omaha Hi/Lo game has a small blind of $1 and a big blind of $2).

Now, each player receives their four hole cards. Betting action proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with the player 'under the gun' (immediately clockwise from the big blind).

Pre-Flop
After examining their hole cards, each player has the option to play their hand by calling or raising the big blind. The action begins to the left of the big blind, which is considered a "live" bet on this round. That player can choose to fold, call, or raise. For example, if the big blind is $2, it would cost $2 to call or at least $4 to raise. The action then proceeds clockwise around the table.

Note: The betting structure varies depending on the specific variation of the game. Explanations of the betting action in Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, and Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo can be found below.
Betting continues on each round until all active players (who have not folded) have placed equal bets in the pot.

The Flop
Once the first betting round concludes, the 'flop' is dealt face-up on the board. The flop consists of the first three community cards available to all active players. Betting commences with the active player immediately clockwise from the button, followed by another round of betting. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, all bets and raises on the flop are in increments of the small bet (for example, $2 in a $2/$4 game).

The Turn
After the betting action on the flop is complete, the 'turn' is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in an Omaha Hi/Lo game. Play resumes with the active player immediately clockwise from the button, and another round of betting ensues. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, bets and raises on the turn are in increments of the big bet (for example, $4 in a $2/$4 game).

The River
When the betting action on the turn concludes, the 'river' is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in an Omaha Hi/Lo game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button, followed by a final round of betting.

The Showdown
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, the last person to bet or raise reveals their cards, unless there was no bet on the final round, in which case the player immediately clockwise from the button shows their cards first. The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, while the player with the best five-card hand for low wins the other half. In all Omaha games, players must use two (and only two) of their four hole cards in combination with exactly three community cards. If hands are identical, the high and low shares of the pot will be divided equally among the players with the best hands. If no hand qualifies for low (i.e., is an 'eight low' or better), the best hand(s) for high wins the entire pot.

After the pot is awarded, a new Omaha Hi/Lo game begins, with the button moving clockwise to the next player.

Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo

The rules for Limit, No Limit, and Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo remain the same, with a few exceptions:

Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, betting is done in pre-determined, structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all bets and raises are equal to the size of the big blind. On the turn and river, the size of all bets and raises doubles. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, each player is allowed up to four bets per betting round, including a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise).

Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo 
The minimum bet in Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is equal to the size of the big blind, but players can always bet up to the size of the pot.

• Minimum raise: the raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. For example, if the first player to act bets $5, the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (for a total bet of $10).
• Maximum raise: the maximum raise is the size of the pot, which includes the active pot, all bets on the table, and the amount the active player must first call before raising.
  Example: If the pot size is $100 and there is no previous action on a particular betting round, a player may bet a maximum of $100. After that bet, the action shifts to the next player clockwise. That player can choose to fold, call $100, or raise any amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum. In this case, the maximum bet is $400 - the raiser would first call $100, increasing the pot size to $300, and then raise an additional $300, resulting in a total bet of $400.

In Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, there is no limit on the number of raises permitted.

No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo 
The minimum bet in No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is equal to the size of the big blind, but players can always bet as much more as they desire, up to their entire stack of chips

• Minimum raise: in No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, the raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. For example, if the first player to act bets $5, the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (for a total bet of $10).
• Maximum raise: the size of your stack (the chips you have on the table).

In No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, there is no limit on the number of raises allowed. Omaha Hi/Lo has been gaining significant popularity, especially with the increasing exposure of online poker. While learning the rules of Omaha Hi/Lo may require some adjustment, it is an entertaining poker variant that many players have come to enjoy.

Learn How to Play Omaha Hi/Lo for Free 

If you are new to Omaha Hi/Lo, we recommend trying out the game to get a feel for how it is played. You are always welcome to play on the free poker tables at our poker client, allowing you to refine your skills before engaging in real money poker.