Sometimes referred to as Omaha Hi-Lo 8 it is a very popular game and has very specific rules. As with all ‘community’ card games, the player has hole cards. Of the four hole cards dealt to the player, two must be used in conjunction with three ‘community cards’ to make up a hand of five.

In this Hi-Lo game, the pot is split between the highest and the lowest hand, although there need be no lowest hand and the pot can be won by a player with a high hand or if all other players have folded. A low hand requires that the highest card be a maximum of 8, but Aces are both low and high. It is possible for one player to have both the highest and lowest hand.

Before the four face-down hole cards are dealt, the player to the left of the dealer makes a forced bet of half the minimum. This is called the ‘small blind’. The next player bets double which is equal to the minimum bet. This is called the ‘big blind’. The number of blinds varies from one to three, but two is usual.

Dealing to the player on the left first, the ‘small blind’, each player receives four face-down hole cards in a clockwise rotation. Betting is opened by the player after the ‘big blind’ with the minimum bet and proceeds in order to the left until it is the ‘small blind’s’ turn. The player must then either call the bet, raise or fold and lose only their initial ‘blind’. The ‘big blind’ is last to bet and must either call, raise or fold. Once all bets are called, raised or hands folded, three up-turned community cards, called ‘the flop’, are dealt in the centre.

From this round on, the blinds are no longer a consideration and betting opens with the player to the left of the dealer who may check if they wish. For ‘the flop’ bets are begun with the minimum and betting is resolved when all players have either called, raised or folded. A fourth up-turned community card called ‘the turn’ is then dealt. Betting proceeds in the same clockwise rotation except in ‘the turn’ round it starts with the maximum bet unless the player checks. Again, betting is resolved when players have called, raised or folded. The final community up-card is dealt. It is called ‘the river’. As with the previous round, betting opens with the maximum bet and proceeds in the same rotation until all bets have been called, raised or hands folded.

The pot is split between the highest hand and the lowest. If there is no low hand, the pot is taken by the highest hand. It is possible for one player to hold both the highest and lowest hand. The winner can also be the last remaining player if all others have folded in which case there is no need fro the player to show their cards. The pot can be split more than once if two or more players have an equal low hand.

OMAHA STRATEGY

Most experienced Omaha Hi-Lo players only stay in the game after the ‘flop’ if they have a very good chance of winning one end of the pot and a decent chance of winning the other. Some feel that it is a difficult game in which to win both, so they play for one end rather than both, but this can be a very laborious affair resulting in lots of waiting and folding.

Omaha strategy is difficult because there are so many cards in the hole, it is a tricky game to judge. If the flop gives good low straight cards like 5, 6 and 7, then whatever you might have in your hand, there’s a pretty good chance someone will have the same or better. With a pot that is split, sometimes more than once, it is best to only stay in with a really good hand.

As with the standard version of Omaha, you can only use two cards of your four hole cards, so being dealt four Kings means that two of those are automatically dead and, aside from this, your opportunity to create a low hand is low compared with any hand which has in it any card from 8 to a low Ace.

Even if you get good hole cards which tend towards both a high and a low ‘nut’ hand, remember that the chances of good hands in this game are very high and that a cautious betting procedure should be followed. Slow-bet if you have good hole cards, but fold if the ‘flop’ doesn’t immediately develop your hand into a possibility of winning both the high and the low. If you are drawing to one end of the pot make sure it is an unbeatable hand. These are usually high hands since good low hands are quite common. Players often check in this game and it’s a good way to keep playing without having to make too much of an investment.

Omaha Hi-Lo Strategy requires much patience if you want to win and you shouldn’t expect bountiful or immediate rewards, but rather approach the game slowly and without being sentimental about what looks like a good hand. It is a game where you can get to know your opponents over a long period of play. Don’t be afraid to fold often, since this is usually an indication of sense. It is a hard game to win consistently and any player would do better to bide their time for a good hand which will win high and low, or wait for a well timed bluff.