How to Play Omaha Hi/Lo Online

Omaha Hi/Lo, sometimes called Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better, is a poker-based game that utilizes five community cards to make a poker hand. The game is similar to Omaha Hi except that in Omaha Hi/Lo the pot is split 50/50 between the best high hand and the worst qualifying low hand. Omaha Hi/Lo requires skill and patience to be able to work for a winning and losing hand, but if you follow these steps you should be able to master the game.

Instructions

1. Look at the fopur cards that are dealt to you. These are called pocket cards. Only you will be able to see these cards. You can only use two of these cards, combined with three community cards, to make a hand.

2. Determine your chances of making a winning hand and losing hand. At this point you can check (make no play), call (match a bet that is already out there), bet, raise (raise a bet that is already out there) or fold. Most people opt to stay in this round to see the flop, the first three community cards dealt.

3. Watch the dealer deal the flop, the first three community cards. Look at your hand to see what kind of high and low hands you can make. A high hand is a regular winning poker hand, such as a straight, a flush, a pair, two pairs, three- or four-of-a-kind. For a hand to qualify as low, it cannot have any card higher than eight or contain any pairs. Again, the computer will ask you for your action, meaning whether you will check, bet, call, raise or fold. If someone has already bet, the only way you can stay in the game is to call or raise the bet.

4. Pay attention to the fourth card, called the turn. At this point you should have a pretty good idea what type of high and low hands you can make. If you have an ace or there is an ace on the board, it can be used in both a high and low hand. After the turn card is dealt, there will be another round of betting. In Omaha Hi/Lo, the betting limits increase incrementally as more community cards are shown.

5. Take note of the final card, called the river. This is your final chance to make a high or low hand. If you haven't folded by now, you should have a good hand to work with. Remember, you are trying to get the best high and low hand, but you don't have to have both to win. Each is worth half the pot. The computer will ask for the final round of betting after the river card is shown.

6. Check what the other players have and see if you've won. The player closest to the button, the object on the table with a D on it, will show his or her cards first. The computer will then go around to each remaining player to see if their hands can beat that hand. If it can, your cards will be turned over. If not, you can tell the computer to auto muck, or throw away losing cards without showing other players. The highest and lowest hands win the game.

Tips & Warnings

• The best low hand in Omaha Hi/Lo is A, 2, 3, 4, 5 because it is the hand with the most low cards and no pairs. This hand also has a good shot at being the high-hand winner because it is a straight.

• Straights and flushes do not matter in a low hand, but are essential in winning a high hand.

• The goal of the game is to have the right cards to win both the low and the high hand.

• Since this game is played online, you have an opportunity to practice with play money and play at a low-limit table. Several online gaming sites offer games that let you play for nickels and dimes. Once you feel comfortable with the game, you can step up to bigger stakes and pots.

• Like all gambling, this game can involve a lot of financial risk. Make sure you are not risking more than you can afford.

Resources

• Get rules for both Omaha Hi and Omaha Hi/Lo.