Omaha Hi-Lo Basics

Mastering Omaha Hi-Lo basics requires more than knowledge of the rules of the game. You also need to learn special approaches with starting hands.
Omaha Hi-Lo is also known as Omaha 8 or better thus to qualify for the low hand, the hand cannot contain a card above 8.

Game Play: Omaha Hi-Lo basics
The game begins when a small blind, half of the minimum bet, is posted by the player to the left of the dealer. If playing a 4/8 dollar limit game, the small blind would be 2 dollars.
After the player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind, the player to his left will post the big blind, which is equivalent to the minimum bet.
Following this example, minimum blind would be 4 dollars.

Posting blinds is followed by dealing whereby each player receives four cards face down beginning with the player to his immediate left or clockwise.
After the cards are dealt, the first round of betting begins wherein the player who posted the big blind has the power to choose whether to call, raise or fold.

With Omaha Hi-Lo basics, if the player chooses to call, he would have to place a bet equivalent to the minimum bet; if he chooses to raise he would have to place a bet double the amount of the minimum bet and if he folds, he forfeits his hand.
Betting continues until it reaches the player who posted the small blind. Then, if he/she chooses to call, only half of the minimum bet can be placed. That bet, together with the small blind will complete the minimum bet.
This time, a raise or a check can be placed by the big blind.

The Flop and Turn: Omaha Hi-Lo basics
After the first round of betting, there is the flop. At this stage, the dealer places three cards, face-up, at the center of the table. These cards are known as the community cards.
The second round of betting ensues with the minimum bet remaining at 4 dollars
starting with the player to the left of the dealer. A fourth community card known as the Turn is placed at the center of the table when the second round of betting is completed.
Betting continues with the player to the dealers left, with a minimum bet of 8 dollars.

The River: Omaha Hi-Lo basics
After the third round of betting, there is a fifth community card placed at the center of the table by the dealer. This card is called the River. It is followed by the last round of betting, still with a minimum bet of 8 dollars. Then the showdown begins.
Each player exposes their hands to form the highest and lowest five card hands using two cards from his/her hand and three of the five community cards. The player with the highest five-card hand and the player holding the lowest five card hand split the pot.
In Omaha Hi-Lo, it is not unusual that more than two players split the pot. It can also happen that only one player holds both the high and low hands and collects the entire pot.

Game Strategy: Omaha Hi-Lo basics
Winning Omaha is much easier and profitable with proper strategies.  For example, special approaches with starting hands. You should continue to compare your hand with community cards during each betting round. As a beginner, focus on the Omaha Hi-Lo basics of 2 cards from the pocket and 3 cards from the board rule.
A strong starting hand could define your entire game. For example, if you get the following card combinations then, your chances of winning increase.
The best among the hands, regardless of double suits are:
AAXX, AAJJ, AAQQ, AAJT, AAKK, AATT or AA99.
The list also includes QQJ9, KKQQ, QQAK, KKJJ, QQKT, JT98, QQJJ, KQJT, QQJT, QQJJ, KKJT, QQAJ, KKQT, AAKJ, KKQQ, KKAQ, KKTT.

Pot Split: Omaha Hi-Lo basics
The pot is split between the player with the highest five-card hand and the player with the lowest five-card hand.  Should the same player hold both Hi and Lo winning hands, then he or she takes the whole pot.
However, what if there was more than one highest and lowest five card hand?
Omaha Hi-Lo rules state that if there is one high five-card hand and two low five card hands, the pot is split whereas the first half is given to the high hand and the other half is split between the two low hands.
In another example, if the player with the highest five-card hand also holds the lowest five card hand but there is another player with an equal low hand, then the player with both high and low five card hand gets three fourths of the pot, thus leaving one fourth of the pot for the other player with the low hand.

Low Nuts and Ties: Omaha Hi-Lo basics
Omaha Hi-Lo strategy calls for reading the 8 or better low cards versus the low nuts.
The definition of nuts is the best of hands in the game thus far. Concentrate on reading the low nuts, and hope you never get a starting hand with three or four cards of the same rank.
It is very possible that the community cards may be on your side on the flop, but the turn and the river could counterfeit your luck.
Ties of low hands with Omaha Hi-Lo occur often, as do high straights and even more rarely, full houses.
Middle ranked cards, in Omaha Hi-Lo are of little use for low splits and could generate lower pairs and sets, thus these hands tend to be avoided.
With other poker games, quads for a starting hand is exceptionally strong, whereas in Omaha, it is the worst possible starting hand.
Concentration is the key in Omaha Hi-Lo.

There are 4 Omaha Hi-Lo lessons at Gambling Teachers that compliment and support the rules and strategies for this popular poker version.
This group of 4 begins with the basics here followed by an advanced lesson, starting hands strategy and other Hi-Lo versions.
In total, there are 9 lessons including terms and a challenging quiz for the game of Omaha at Gambling Teachers.

Omaha Hi-Lo Basics is followed by an Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced lesson
OR
How to Play Poker 1 Program
OR
Learn Poker Games 2

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