Omaha Hi-Lo
Omaha Hi/Lo is a popular version of Omaha poker that requires a good understanding of the basics to play at a competitive level. The game differs from Omaha poker as the player with the best high hand splits the pot with the player who has best low hand. There is always a high hand winner but not always a low. If there's no low hand, the player with the high hand wins the whole pot.
It is also possible for the same online poker player to win the whole pot if they can use their cards to make both the best high hand and best low hand.
So what's a "Low" hand?
For a hand to qualify as low it must have five denominations no higher than an eight and no pairs, 8 7 6 5 4 or lower. Straights and flushes do not disqualify a hand from being considered as low and have the same ranking as an unsuited 5 card hand of the same denominations.
Aces can be played both high or low so an online casino player ending with 5 4 3 2 Ace, would have an unbeatable low hand and also a 5 high straight to play for the high hand. This hand is known as "The Wheel", and is a very powerful hand in Hi/Lo games.
If two or more online poker players have the same high card in their low hand, then the next lowest high card wins. The lowest hand is determined by the high cards first.
Starting the game
The poker game is identical to Omaha and Texas Hold'em in respect to dealer button and blinds.
Dealing the cards
As in Omaha poker, the player must use precisely two hole cards out of their four, and three community cards out of the five to make a hand. Any two hole cards can be played for the high hand and any two for the low.
Betting rounds and community cards
The betting rounds and dealing the community cards are identical to Omaha poker and Texas Hold'em.
The Showdown
At the showdown the player's entire hole cards (4 cards) are shown to receive the pot. If there is no qualifying low hand, the player with the best high hand wins the whole pot. Otherwise the pot is divided equally between the best high hand and the best (lowest) low hand.
If more than one person holds the same winning high or low hand, then that portion of the pot is split between the players. This is known as being "quartered" - as online poker players can end up with a quarter of the pot.
