Difference Between Omaha and Omaha HI/LOW
With regular Omaha, the person with the best hand wins. In Omaha HI/LOW the pot can be split between 2 players. After the 5th community card is dealt, the pot can be split between the person with the best hand(high hand) and the low hand, if it qualifies. To Help explain a LOW hand, here is the explanation straight from Carbon Poker.
"To make a low hand, you must have 5 distinct cards with no pairs, and no card higher than an 8. Since you must use two cards to make your hand, two of the cards in your hand and three from the board all need to be 8 or lower. As straights and flushes don't count the best low hand is A-2-3-4-5 of any suit. Ranking starts with the highest of your low cards, so 7-6-5-4-3 is 8-low and would beat 8-7-5-4-3-2 a 7-low. If two players make a low hand and have the same hi card, the next highest card wins, so 7-5-4-3-2 beats 7-6-4-3-2. If there is no low hand the entire pot goes to the high hand."
- Carbon Poker (http://www.carbonpoker.com/games/omahahilo.html)
You should remember that you can have both the high hand and the low hand, so you could win the whole pot that way as well.
Starting the Game
Someone will be designated the Dealer (which is usually determined by highest card). The dealer rotates clockwise after every hand. The person directly one seat to the left of the dealer will post a small bet (Small Blind) and the person two seats down will post a larger bet (Big Blind). These bets are known before hand and will be shown to you when you enter the table. The small blind is always half the big blind.
Each player will then be dealt 4 cards face down, these are called the hole cards. After everyone gets there hole cards, there will be a round of betting. The person to the left of the Big Blind will act first. You can now fold your hand, call the big blind (you must at least match big blind here to continue), or you can raise over the big blind.
The Flop
After the first round of betting has finished, the dealer will place 3 community cards(community cards can be used by everyone at the table) face up on the table, this is referred to as 'The Flop'. You now use your hole cards with the community cards to make a hand. This is where another round of betting occurs. Same rules apply here. If someone has raised the pot, you must at least match that raise to continue, you can raise the pot yourself, or if no one has raised, you can check the pot. Checking means that you aren't going to bet, you are essentially betting $0, allowing you to see the next card.
The Turn
When the first round of betting after the flop is finished, the dealer will place a 4th community card on the table, which is referred to as 'The Turn'. You now have your 4 hole cards and 4 community cards to create your hand. Another round of betting will take place, which will bring us to the final card.
The River
The 5th and final community card will be dealt after the third round of betting. This 5th community card is known as 'The River'. This is where you take 2 out of your 4 hole cards and 3 out of the 5 community cards to make the best hand, or to see if you have the low hand. After the river comes the last round of betting. When the bets are finished, the players must show their cards, starting with the last person to bet. This is where you find out if you have the high hand or low hand. If there is a low hand, the pot is split. If there is no low hand, the high hand wins the pot.
If you see that you have been beaten, you can muck your cards. Mucking your cards basically means that you've been beaten and you've folded your cards. If you are the last person to bet and everyone folds, you have won the hand and do not have to show your cards. |