In Omaha Hi/Lo the winning pot is split 50/50 between the best hand and be best qualifying low hand. It is basically played the same as Omaha Hi except that the highest hand wins 50% of the pot and the lowest qualifying hand wins 50% of the pot. In many games Omaha Hi/Lo is used with an 8 or better rule whereby the highest card used for the low winning hand cannot be greater than an 8. Make sure you know if the game you are playing is Omaha Hi/Lo Split or Omaha Hi/Lo Split (8 or better). The winning low hand is determined first by the player with the lowest high card.
Upon tying with the high card, the hand goes to the player with the next lowest high card and so on. It is possible to have more than one low hand winner. If there is no qualifying low hand (no hand with 8 or lower as a high card in an Omaha Hi/Lo Split 8 or better game) the high hand gets 100% of the pot.
Omaha Hi/Lo is Played as Follows
- Each Player receives four face down cards (pocket cards) to start.
- Five community cards are dealt to the board.
- At the showdown, each player must use exactly two of their pocket cards and 3 cards from the board.
- At the showdown, each player can use any two pocket cards for their high hand and any two pocket cards for their low hand.
- The best low hand is A-2-3-4-5, which may also can count as a straight to be the best high hand
- Straights and flushes are not considered for counting a low hand.
- It is possible for a player to have both the high hand and the low hand in a Hi/Lo Game Betting
- The first round of betting takes place after the pocket cards (first four cards are dealt)
- The dealer then turns over (face up) three community boardcards (the flop) and the second round of betting begins
- The dealer then deals one more community boardcard (the turn) face up, and the third round of betting begins.
- The dealer then deals the last final community boardcard (the river) face up.
- The final round of betting begins.
There usually is a maximum of three raises on each round.
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