Omaha Hi-Lo Poker

Omaha hi-lo is a variation on Omaha Poker except the winning hand is shared between the player with the highest hand and the lowest qualifying hand.

How Omaha Hi-Lo is played

Omaha hi-lo requires players to 'buy in' chips when they join a table. The 'buy-in' is normally ten times the lowest bet limit. For example, on a £1/£2 table, the 'buy-in' would be £10. However, in some games, the buy-in can be 20 times the bet limit or more. Like Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo requires players to post a small and large blind to begin a game.

The play begins once the blinds have been posted. Each player is dealt four cards, known as 'pocket cards' and the first round of betting takes place. Players can check, raise or fold in turn. Three community cards are then dealt in the centre of the table. These are known as the 'flop' and a second round of betting commences. The fourth card, or the 'turn' is dealt next into the centre and the third round of betting follows. Finally, the fifth card known as the 'river' is dealt and the final round of betting takes place.

If there is more than one player remaining in the game, there will be a 'showdown' in which all players will show what they are holding. The players must form their best hand from two of the pocket cards and the three community cards. The players with the best high hand and the player with the best low hand shares the pot 50/50. The best qualifying low hand is made from five cards ranking lower than 8 of different values. Aces can be used high or low. Straights and flushes are not held against the player as a low hand, so could also qualify as a high hand. It is possible for one player to have the highest and lowest qualifying hands by using all four of their pocket cards.

Most poker rooms offer one bet per round with three raises in which the final raise is capped.

The player with the highest five card hand wins. In the case of a tie, the pot is shared. If the table is full and all the player are still in by the river card, there will not be enough cards left in the pack to continue. In this situation, the final card is dealt up and used as a 'community' card.