Rules of Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha Hi-Lo is a poker game that has increased in popularity lately for those who play online poker, but since it is quite different from Texas Hold’em many players still fail to understand the game and its strategy.
The main difference between the games is that in Omaha players have four hole cards instead of two in Hold’em, and the Hi-Lo split is the other differing factor.
This article will teach you the ins and outs of Omaha Hi Lo (also known as Omaha 8 or better) so you can play it at your local casino or online poker site.

The Deal

The game begins with the dealer shuffling the cards, and the posting of the blinds.
The player directly to the left of the dealer posts the small blind, and the player two seats to the left of the dealer posts the big blind.
These are forced bets that are there to ensure preflop action.
After the blinds are posted, each player receives four cards face down.

Preflop Action

Preflop action begins with the player directly to the left of the big blind. He/she can either call the big blind, fold, or raise the big blind by placing double the amount of chips in the pot.
Action continues clockwise around the table.
Each player can either call the previous bet, fold, or raise.
If there are three raises made the raising is usually capped.
Preflop betting ends when every player has either folded or has the correct amount of money in the pot.

The Flop

The flop is three community cards that are placed face up in the center of the table, and since they are community cards they really influence each players poker strategy.
After the flop is dealt out, betting begins in a clockwise fashion starting with the first player who is still in the hand to the left of the dealer.
The player can either check (meaning they don’t place a bet) or bet, and each player after them can either check, call a previous bet, make a bet, fold, or raise a previous bet.
Once each player has either folded or called the highest bet, action continues to the turn.

The Turn

The turn is another face up card that is dealt out in the middle of the table. Like in the last round, action begins to the left of the dealer and continues clockwise around the table.
The betting is exactly the same as what occurred on the flop.

The River

The river is the final community card, and is dealt face up on the middle of the table.
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, action continues clockwise until every player has either folded or called the highest bet.
If at least two players are left at the end of the hand, there is a showdown, and the best hand wins the pot.

The Showdown
 

The showdown in Omaha Hi-Lo is more complicated than in Hold’em because the hand rankings are different.
Basically, the total pot is split evenly into two pots: the High pot and the Low pot.
The best High hand will win the high pot.
A high hand is the same hand rankings you’re used to in poker: Straight Flush is the best, then Four of a Kind, then a Full House, then a Flush, then a Straight, then Three of a Kind, then Two Pair, then a Pair, and finally a High Card.
 

Now, the Low pot is where things get more complicated.
There isn’t always a low hand, because you have to have at least an 8-low to qualify.
What this means is that you need five cards in your hand that are below 8 and are not paired.
So, an 8-7-6-5-4-3 is the minimum hand you’d need to make a qualifying Low hand. If you are the only player who has a qualifying low, you’ll win the low half of the pot. However, if there are multiple hands that qualify for the low, the player with the best Low will win the pot.
 

To rank Low hands, you examine each hands highest card.
Whoever’s is lower has the better hand.
If they’re the same, you look at each hands second highest card, and whoever’s is lower has the better hand.
If those are the same, you’ll move down to the third card, then the fourth card, then the fifth card.
 

For example, if the two Low hands were 8-7-6-4-3 and 8-7-6-5-4 you’d start by looking at the highest card, and since both high cards are 8 you’d move on to the next highest card.
Since both of those are 7, you’d move to the third card, and since both of those are 6, you’d move to the fourth card. Now, since the first hand has a 4 as the fourth highest card, and the second hand has a 5 as the fourth highest card, the first hand would be the better low.

In the case of two players having the same Low hand, they’d split the Low end of the pot, in essence each getting ¼ of the total pot.

These are the full rules of Omaha Hi-Lo, and will get you up and playing. 
I hope you enjoyed this poker strategy lesson. 
Good luck at the tables playing online poker games!