Omaha Hi & Hi/Low

Omaha Poker Rules

Like Texas Hold’em, Omaha is a community card game - played with a combination both of pocket cards, and community cards. There are two distinct differences between Omaha and Hold’em. First - each player receives 4 pocket cards to start (as opposed to just 2 with Hold’em). Second, any player remaining at the final round must use a combination of exactly 2 of their 4 pocket cards, and 3 of the 5 community cards to determine their best hand.

Omaha vs Hi/Low

The only difference between Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo is that the player with the best hand must split the pot with the player with the best qualifying low hand. There is always a high hand winner, but not always a low hand winner.

For your hand to qualify as a low hand, you must have five cards no higher than an eight. Any two of your four pocket cards can be played for your high hand, and any two can be played for your low hand. You must play exactly two out of your hand for each direction. Aces are played both high and low. Straights and flushes do not disqualify a hand for low. So a player ending with 5 4 3 2 A would have an unbeatable low hand and a 5 high straight to play for the high hand. A player with this hand would have a good chance of winning both ways.

The Dealer Button

Because the dealer does not play in Omaha, the “button” is used to determine which player will act as the dealer as game play progresses. The button appears as a small round disc on the play table in front of the player acting as the dealer for that round.

Limits

There are 3 versions of Omaha offered at Wingowspoker.com which can be classified by their respective betting limits:

Limit Omaha has a maximum number of 4 bets allowed during any betting round (initial bet, raise, re-raise, cap). Once the 4th bet is made, the betting is stopped or “capped” and players will only then have the option to call or fold for that specific round.
Minimum raise
The minimum raise in Pot Limit Omaha is at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. Therefore, if the first player bets $50.00, the second player must raise a minimum of $50.00 (total bet of $100.00).

Maximum raise
Pot Limit Omaha allows a player to bet a maximum of what is in the pot. The pot consists of the current pot plus all bets on the table, as well as the active player’s call to stay in the game. Therefore, if the current pot is $400.00, and the first player bets $50.00, and the second player calls $50.00, the third player is limited to a maximum allowable bet of $600.00. The $600.00 total consists of the third player’s $50.00 call, along with a $550.00 raise. The raise includes the first 2 player’s bets ($50.00 each) and the current pot total ($400.00), and the third player’s call of $50.00.
Minimum raise
The minimum raise in No Limit Omaha is at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. Therefore, if the first player bets $50.00, the second player must raise a minimum of $50.00 (total bet of $100.00).

Maximum raise
No Limit Hold’em poker allows the player to bet their total chip count.

The Blinds

Omaha begins each round of game play with the posting of the blinds. The 2 players to the left of the dealer (the button) are required to place blind bets before the round begins. Once the blinds have been posted, the cards are dealt.

Pre Flop-First Round of Betting

Each player is dealt 4 cards, face down. These cards are known as “pocket cards”. The player to the left of the player who posted the Big Blind is first to act. Each player has the option to Bet, Raise, Call (option depends on the decision made by the previous player in the betting round), or Fold.

The dealer will turn over the 3 community cards (known as the Flop) once the first round of betting is completed. Players now have the option of participating in the 2nd round of betting, or folding their hand and forfeiting the money they have already placed into the pot. The player to the left of the button is first to act in this round. This player has the option to check (to stay in the game without betting), or bet. Each subsequent player can check as well, as long as no bets are made. Once a bet has been made, each player will then be required to call, raise or fold in order to remain in the game. This continues until all players have put the same amount of money into the pot, or folded.

The next community card (known as the Turn) is then dealt by the dealer. Betting resumes again - beginning with the player to the left of the button.

The Flop-Second Round of Betting

The Turn-Third Round of Betting

The next community card (known as the Turn) is then dealt by the dealer. Betting resumes again - beginning with the player to the left of the button.

The River-Fourth (Final) Round of Betting

The final community card (the river) is then turned over by the dealer. Any players still involved in the hand now have the option to participate in the final round of betting, or fold their hand. If all but one player folds their hands, the last player to bet wins the pot. If it comes down to a showdown, the remaining players now make their best poker hand (consisting of 5 cards only) by using a combination of 3 of the 5 community cards and exactly 2 of their 4 pocket cards. The player with the best poker hand wins the pot. In Omaha Hi/Lo, the pot is split between the player with the best high hand, and the player with the best low hand (if one exists).

Additional Information

Poker games at WingowsPoker adhere to the “table stakes” form of play. Players can only use the chips they had in front of them when the current round began. Therefore, players are not able to obtain additional funds from the cashier or from another player in a form of a transfer until the current round has ended. To ensure a player does not have to forfeit their hand due to lack of funds, the “All-in” rule applies.

A player can place an “All-in” bet during a round if they have insufficient funds to call a bet made by another player. The All-in player remains a part of the game and is eligible to win the main pot, determined by the amount of the “All-in” bet. If betting continues, other players will be part of the “side pot”, which the All-in player will have no interests in. The side pot winner will be determined by the highest hand of the remaining players, even if the All-in player has a higher hand.

Winning hands are determined by the rank of the players hand. Should 2 or more hands be of equal rank, the player with the highest cards in their poker hand wins the pot. Should 2 or more hands be identical, the pot will be split evenly between the winning players.

Should you have any questions, please contact our friendly support staff at support@Wingowspoker.com

Good luck!