Omaha Hi-Lo poker is a variant of the popular Omaha poker game. The difference between Omaha Hi-Lo and traditional Omaha poker is that the former splits the pot evenly between the lowest hand and the highest hand. If you're playing a game of Omaha Hi-Lo, and you have the lowest hand, you will win 50% of the pot. If you have the highest hand, you will win 50% of the pot. However, players who hold both the highest and the lowest hands will win the entire pot. Omaha Poker shot to popularity in 1939 when WWII broke out. It was popularized in Las Vegas back in 1982, but it took another 9 years before the game became a mainstream attraction at the WSOP (World Series of Poker).
Top Tips for Playing Omaha Hi-Lo Poker
Newbies should always remember that you count the low hand in Omaha Hi-Lo from the highest card downwards. If you're holding the following cards: Jack, Ace, King, 2 and 5, then your low hand is: Ace, King, Jack, 5 and 2. If your hand is made up of the following cards: 2, 9, 6, 4 and 3, then your low hand is: 9, 6, 4, 3, and 2. Comparing these hands, the second hand is the Omaha Lo winner. If players have the same high card in their low hand, then we need to take account of the other cards that make up the hand. The second card in each hand must be considered, since the lower-value card wins in Omaha Hi-Lo. If both players have the identical low hand, then the pot will be split 50/50 between them. In other words, the low hand winners will receive 25% of the total pot.
Players who already know the rules of games like Texas Hold'em are well positioned to play Omaha Hi-Lo poker. Remember that you will receive 4 hole cards, but only 2 can be used. The dealer will also deliver The Flop, Turn and River – the Community Cards. The most important thing to remember at this stage of the game is that you can use only 2 of your 4 hole cards along with any 3 community cards (Flop, Turn and River) to form the best Omaha Hi-Lo hand.
Ante Up for Omaha Hi-Lo Poker Games
Once the dealer has been designated, the positions of other players relative to the dealer are evident. These include the Small Blind and the Big Blind. These mandatory bets are required for all players in the hand. The Big Blind is twice the value of the Small Blind. Once the blinds have been posted, each player will receive 4 cards face down. These are known as the hole cards. The dealer always acts last in games of Omaha Hi-Lo. The dealer position is regarded as the best position in a game of poker, given that the dealer gets to see exactly what every other player is doing before acting.
This is where things like poker psychology, bluffing and strategy come into play. However, the dealer position rotates around the table after each hand of play. Therefore, every player at a table gets to enjoy this prime position. Once the Small Blinds and the Big Blinds have been posted, 4 facedown hole cards will be dealt. Players will then act by calling, raising, or holding and checking. Once the betting round is over, the first 3 community cards will be dealt. This is known as The Flop. Players then act, and the betting round will end. The next community card, The Turn, is the fourth community card. Another round of betting will follow this. The fifth and final card is The River. At the end of the betting round, The Showdown ensues. The best low hand will win 50% of the pot, and the highest-ranking high hand will win 50% of the pot.
