Omaha Poker Rules
Omaha Hi/Low enjoys wide popularity nowadays. One of its distinctive features is that you can also win the low hand. In order to do that, one needs to have 5 unpaired cards, which are no higher than 8.
At the showdown the players use any 5 of the cards to create the high hand or any 5 of the cards to create the low hand. Note that your 5 card hand should necessarily consist of any two of your private cards and any three of the 5 community cards.
The Betting Structure
The game consists of 4 betting rounds, which are quite the same as in Texas Hold’em. In the first two rounds of Omaha Hi/Low each bet is to be at the lower limit of the stakes structure, while in the last two rounds it equals to the higher limit of it. Let’s say, if you are playing a $5/10 game, then you will have to bet or raise $5 in the first 2 rounds and $10 in the last two.
Each betting round has a maximum amount of bets and raises allowed, which is 1 bet and 3 raises for the round (i.e. 4 total raises per round). Therefore, there can be a bet, a raise, a re-raise and a cap.
The Dealer
A round disc (called the dealer button, or just ‘the button’) is used in the game to indicate the theoretical dealer. The disc helps determine the order of betting. It is moved clockwise one player at a time after each hand.
The Blinds
Before the cards are dealt, 2 players to the left of the dealer button are supposed to post the Blinds, which are 2 live bets. The name ‘blinds’ comes from the fact that these players post bets before they are allowed to see their cards. The player to the immediate left of the dealer posts a Small blind, equal to half the minimum stake of the game. For instance, that will be $1 if you are playing a $2/4. The player still to the left of the small blind posts the Big Blind, equal to the minimum stake of the game, i.e. $2 in the example above.
The First Betting Round
The Blinds being posted, the time has come for the cards to be dealt. Each player is given 4 cards face down, these are called private cards. The first round of betting starts to the left of the big blind and goes around the table in a clockwise manner.
The Flop
Once that is over, the dealer puts 3 community cards face up on the board. These cards can be used by all the players in order to create their best possible hand. Then the second round of betting starts immediately to the left of the dealer button.
The Turn Card
The 4th community card is placed face up in the middle of the table. The card is called the “turn” and can again be used by any of the players. The third betting round starts.
The River
The dealer turns over the final community card, called the river, and the last round of betting ensures.
Once all betting is over, the players determine the best 5-card high and low hands. In Omaha Hi/Low the pot is split 50/50 between the best high and the best low hand. Note again, that the low hand must not have cards ranked above 8 in it.