Object of the Game
To finish with the highest or lowest poker hand. The
Game of Omaha High Low
Omaha High/Low uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate
where the cards are to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players to the
left of the button place live bets called the small and big blinds.
It is called a blind because players must pay this amount before seeing
their cards. It's called live because it counts as part of any further bets
in the first betting round.
The play begins with four cards dealt facedown to each player.
Action starts with a betting round beginning with the player to the left
of the blind bets and continuing clockwise around the table.
Players may bet, check, raise or fold in turn. The big blind has the privilege
of last action and may check or raise the bet.
Three community cards called "The Flop" are then
dealt up in the center of the table and another betting round takes place
beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button. Another card
is dealt face up (called "The Turn") followed by a round of
betting.
The fifth and last card called "The River" is dealt
face up and a final round of betting takes place. Players remaining in
the hand will then show their cards and the winning poker hand will be
awarded the pot.
Players must form their best five-card poker hand from only two of their
four pocket cards and any three of five community cards.
Amount of Players
From 6 to 10 players plus a dealer are seated around a table.
Dealer Button
In front of one of the players is a round disc or button. This
disc determines the order of betting (posting the blinds) and moves to
the left one player at a time, after each hand.
Post Blinds
Before the cards are dealt at the beginning of each hand, the
two players directly to the left of the dealer button must post "blinds".
A blind is to place a bet before getting cards.
The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts
the "small blind," equal to half of the minimum bet (Example:
$5 for a $10/$20 game). The player to the left of the small blind posts
the "big blind," equal to the amount of the minimum bet (Example:
$10 for a $10/$20 game).
Pocket Cards
Once the blinds have been posted, the first round of cards is
dealt. These consist of four cards face down to each player and are called
the "pocket cards". Each player can see his or her own pocket
cards.
Then the first round of betting takes place, beginning with
the player immediately to the left of the big blind and continuing in
a clockwise direction around the table.
Betting In Omaha High Low Poker
Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, in a
$3/$6 table, bets are $3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the last two.
The bet amount can climb a maximum of 3 times in each round of betting.
In other words, there can be one bet and three raises in each round.
The Flop Cards
Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.
These cards are called the "Flop". All three cards are "community"
cards and can be used by all the players at the table to make up their
best possible hand.
After the flop is dealt, a second round of betting takes place,
again beginning with the player immediately to the left of the dealer
button. All subsequent rounds of betting begin with the player to left
of the dealer button.
The Turn Card
Following the flop, a fourth "community" card is dealt
face up in the middle of the table. This card is called the "Turn"
card and can also be used by all players. It is followed by a third round
of betting.
The River Card
Finally, a fifth and final "community" card is dealt
face up in the middle of the table. It is called the "River"
card and is followed by a fourth and final round of betting.
The Showdown!
Once all betting is complete, players determine the best five-card
high or low hand that they can make from two of their four pocket cards
and three of the five community cards. In Omaha High/Low the pot is split
50-50 between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand, consisting
of 5 cards of different values ranked 8 or lower.
Straights and flushes are not counted against you when evaluating a low
hand. However, they still apply for evaluating the high hand. Aces can
be used both for high and low hands. Therefore, the best possible low
hand is A, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which is also a straight for the high hand.
It is possible for a player to scoop the entire pot with both the highest
and lowest hands.
Four of these cards will be in their own possession and dealt as down
cards, and five will be face up as community cards to be shared by all
players. Therefore, if a player is dealt four kings down, only two of
the kings count toward the final hand. The remaining three cards must
come from the community cards.
The player with the best five-card hand and the player with the qualifying
best low hand share the pot evenly. Should multiple hands tie, the pot
is split with any odd amount going to the player immediately to the left
of the dealer.
The "button" is moved clockwise around the table so that every
player can benefit from the advantage of being last to act once per round.
Like Hold'em, position is an important advantage with the player on the
button being in the best position possible
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