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Omaha Hi

Omaha Hi, a game for between 2-10 players, has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its fast paced play and relatively simple game rules. Omaha Hi consists of 4 Betting Rounds. Throughout the game each player receives 4 facedown “Pocket Cards”. 5 face-up “Community Boardcards” are placed in the center of the Table, to be shared by all the players. Each player creates the highest valued Poker hand, using any 2 of his/her 4 Pocket Cards and any 3 of the 5 Community Boardcards.

Omaha Hi Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Posting the Blind Bets The first Member Sitting-in in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer Posts the Small Blind Bet (half the Table’s Lower Limit Stake). The second Member Sitting-in in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer, Posts the Big Blind Bet (equal to the Table’s Higher Limit Stake).

Step 2: The Pocket Cards: The First Deal The Dealer distributes four facedown Pocket Cards to each Member. The cards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, one at a time, starting with the Member to the left of the Big Blind.

Step 3: The First Betting Round: The first Member Sitting-in to the left of the Big Blind begins the first Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each Member acting in Turn. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Lower Limit Stake. In this Betting Round, each Member is required to at least Call the Big Blind, in order to remain in the game.

Step 4: "The Flop" : The Dealer places three Community Boardcards, face-up, in the center of the Table. These cards are shared by all the Members.

Step 5: The Second Betting Round: The first active Member (who has not Folded) to the left of the Dealer begins the second Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active Member acting in turn. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Lower Limit Stake.

Step 6: "The Turn" : The Third Deal The Dealer places a fourth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the Table.

Step 7: The Third Betting Round The first active Member to the left of the Dealer begins the third Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active Member acting in turn. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Higher Limit Stake.

Step 8: "The River" : The Dealer places a fifth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the Table.

Step 9: The Fourth Betting Round The first active Member to the left of the Dealer begins the fourth Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active Member acting in. This Betting Round is set at the Table’s Higher Limit Stake.

Step 10: The Showdown: Once the fourth Betting Round is completed there is a Showdown (if more than one Member remains). In the Showdown, each active Member combines any two of his/her four Pocket Cards, and any three of the five Community Boardcards, to create the highest valued Poker hand possible (see Poker Hand Value Chart). The active Member who creates the highest valued Poker hand wins the Pot, minus the Rake.

Hi/Lo version of Omaha

Omaha 8 or Better is the Hi/Lo version of Omaha. It is a "split pot" game. Over the past few years, Omaha 8 or Better has been the fastest growing poker game in the world. Players love it because it is an action game.
Basics: Players start with four "down" cards. Players share five "community" cards (which are dealt face-up in the center of the table). You MUST use two of your four "down" cards with three "up" cards to form your hand. There is no qualifying on the "High" side - the best high hand automatically wins half the pot and could win the whole pot. To win the "Low" side of the pot, however, you must qualify (which is why the game is named Omaha "8 or Better").

To qualify for Low: It takes a five-card hand with different numerical values from Ace through eight (with the Ace being the lowest) to qualify for the "Low" half of the pot. The best "Low" hand is A, 2, 3, 4, 5 (also known as the "wheel" or "bicycle"). The winning "Low" hand goes to the player with the lowest high card. For example, a player with a 2,4,5,6,7 would have a better "Low" hand than someone with an A,2,4,6,8. If two or more players have the same high card, the player with the second lowest card (or third, fourth, or fifth if necessary) in their hand wins the low side of the pot.

Here is the procedure for Omaha:

1. Prior to dealing the cards, two blind bets (the Small Blind and the Big Blind) are placed in the pot by the two players to the immediate left of the dealer. The blinds are put in to start the action.
2. Everyone is dealt four "down" cards. The action begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind folding, calling, or raising. Play continues with all players making one of these decisions. This is the first betting round.
3. Upon completion of the first round of betting, three cards are dealt face-up in the center of the table (community cards known as "the Flop"). This is the second round of betting. Beginning with this round of betting and throughout the remaining rounds of betting, the player to the left of the dealer button acts first. A player may now Check or Bet (if there is no betting in front of them). If there is betting and/or raising in front of them, they may Call, Raise, or Fold.
4. Upon completion of the action on the "flop," another card is dealt face-up (known as the "The Turn" or "Fourth Street"). This is the third betting round. The size of the bet doubles on this round of betting. The betting again starts with the player closest to the left of the button.
5. Following the completion of action on "the turn", the dealer turns over the last card (known as "The River" or "Fifth Street"). This is the final round of betting.
6. Upon completion of the final round of betting, the best hand wins the pot.

Important:

• Straights and flushes do NOT count against you when qualifying for "Low".
• You are permitted to use different cards in your hand for the "High" side and different cards for the "Low" side or the same cards for both the "High" and "Low" sides. In a split pot, any leftover odd chip goes to the "High" side of the pot.

Ties: In case two or more players "tie" for one side of the pot, they will split that half into equally divided portions. If there is an odd chip(s), it will go to the person(s) closest to the left of the "button". (One player winning the "High" side and two players who tie for the "Low" side is not uncommon in Omaha 8 or Better.)

Key to Remember: To determine your hand(s) in Omaha 8 or Better, you MUST play two of your four "down" cards with three of the "up" cards (community cards). You may play different cards for the "High" and "Low" sides. A player "scoops" the pot when they win the whole pot.