How to Play Omaha Hi/Lo

The First round

The player next to the button / dealer is required to place the small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower stake.

The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind, equal to the lower stake limit.

After the blinds have been placed, the down cards / hole cards are dealt to each active player. In Omaha HI/LO (also called Omaha 8 or Better) , 4 cards are dealt to each of the players, after which the first betting round starts. The player to the left of the player who placed the big blind starts the betting for this round. Each player will now have the option to place his or her bets in the first round, which is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $2/$4 Omaha 8 or Better game, value of each bet is $2 for the first round. When we say the bets are limited to $2, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $2, so when a user places “BET” then it is $2, “RAISE” would be $4 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player. Bets can be placed by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. Each player will also have the option to Fold. These options are available to each player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player (left of the Big Blind) to act (in the first round) would get the Bet, Call and Raise options. Subsequent players would also get the options of Call and Raise. To Call is to bet the same as what the previous player has bet. Raise action calls for raising whatever was the bet/call amount of the previous player, and can be calculated based on the value of the previous bet amount.

The maximum bet differs depending on the betting style (Limit; No Limit – the player can bet the minimum up to the ammount in front of him; Pot Limit – the player can bet the minimum up to the pot size)

Every player participating in the hand should place equal amount of bet as the previous players (includes bets, calls and raises) the exception is if the player goes all in, that is puts all chips into the pot even if it isn't the full ammount. The player will then only participate in the pot up to the ammount he or she has contributed with.

After the first round of betting is over, the Flop is dealt. The community cards are common to all the players participating in the hand.

The Second Round

After the flop and in each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act. The second betting round also limits the value of bets and raises to the lower limit of the stake structure. So in a $4/$4 value of each bet is $2 for the second round. When we say the bets are limited to $10, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $2, so when a user places “BET” then it is $2, “RAISE” would be $4 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player. Bets can be placed, by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. These options are available to each player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player placing the bet would get the Bet option (the player left to the Button). Other players will get the Call and Raise options only.

After this the fourth community card is dealt out – this is known as the Turn.

The Third Round

The third betting round starts again with the player left to the button, and bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure ($2/$4 game, $4 would be the upper stake). When we say the bets are limited to $20, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $2, so when a user places “BET” then it is $2, “RAISE” would be $4 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player. Bets can be placed by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. Combinations of these options are available to the player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player placing the bet would get the Bet option (the player left to the Button).

After this the fifth community card is dealt out – this is known as the River.

The Fourth Round

The fourth (and final) betting round starts again with the player left to the button, and bets and raises are limited to the upper limit of the stake structure ($2/$4 game, $2 would be the upper stake). When we say the bets are limited to $2, it refers to: a Bet (single bet) of the value of $2, so when a user places “BET” then it is $2, “RAISE” would be $4 – includes one additional bet and a call on the previous bet placed by a player. Bets can be placed by playing any of the following options – Bet, Call and Raise. Combinations of these options are available to the player depending on the action taken by the previous player. The first player placing the bet would get the Bet option (the player left to the Button).

Showdown

You can play Omaha at Party Poker for Play- and Real Money.