Omaha Hi-Lo (Omaha 8) Rules

February 27, 2007 by ozpoker
Filed under Poker Rules

Omaha Hi-Lo - also known as Omaha 8

Absolutely my favourite game though it does take some mastering. The same rules as standard Omaha up until the showdown. Then the pot is split equally between the best high hand, and the best qualifying low hand. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Straights and flushes do not count against the low hand, but pairs do. To qualify, no card from the low hand may be above an 8. Remember you must use two of your hole cards so if there is not 3 cards below 9 in the community cards then there will be no low hand.

A player can scoop both high and low, winning the entire pot. This can be done with one five-card hand that works both ways such as :

This will give you the best possible low hand (remember straights and flushes do not count), as well as a straight flush (the best high hand). Or you can make two different high and low hands with two different five-card hands made from your 4 hole cards. Remember you must use two of your hole cards but any hole card can be used to make high or low hand, you may even use two completely different hole cards to make your high and low hands.

Order of play

Each player is dealt four hole cards, face-down
There is a round of betting, started by the two blind-bets.
Three cards, the flop, are dealt face-up to the center of the table. These are community cards that all players use in making their hands.
There is a round of betting.
A fourth community card, the turn, is dealt face-up to the center of the table.
There is a round of betting.
A fifth community card, the river, is dealt face-up to the center of the table.
There is a final round of betting.

The pot is split evenly between the best five-card high hand and the best qualifying five-card low hand. A five-card hand must include exactly two hole cards and three community cards. If multiple players show the identical best hand, that half of the pot is split evenly between those players.

Omaha H/L (8) is offered in Fixed Limit and Pot Limit structures. In Fixed Limit Omaha H/L (8), the first two betting rounds (preflop and on the flop) are at the lower limit; the last two rounds are at the higher limit.