How to Play Omaha Hi-Lo Poker

Omaha Hi-Lo is among the most challenging forms of poker because it requires a good sense of which hands are likely to scoop the pot by winning both the low side and the high side. Those players who play for only half the pot will not come out ahead in the long run. The game is growing in popularity, with several events at the World Series of Poker dedicated to it each year. Here is a quick primer to get you started in Omaha Hi-Lo.

Things You'll Need

• Cards
• Chips

Instructions

1. Decide the stakes you want to play. There is less variance in Omaha Hi-Lo than in a game like No-Limit Hold'em because you will split a lot of pots, so you get your money back or win money more often in this game--it is just that the pots are usually smaller. That being said you can play stakes slightly higher than you are used to. If you play $4 to $8 Limit Hold'em, for example, then you can probably afford $5 to $10 limits in Omaha Hi-Lo.

2. Begin play. Omaha Hi-Lo is like Hold'em in that there is the standard clockwise-rotating button and two blinds, but is unlike Hold'em in that you get four cards (from which you can only play two to make your hand) and the high and the low split the pot. Eight low is the qualifier for the low so there must be at least three low cards among the board cards for a low to be possible (aces count both high and low).

3. Play hands that have a good chance of scooping both high and low. Some examples include A-A-2-3, A-2-3-4, A-3-4-5, A-2-K-J. These are just a few possibilities and any time the cards are suited you can also win by making a flush. Having three or more low cards gives you the possibility of making a wheel (A-2-3-4-5) and having low cards mixed with high cards gives you a shot at making a high straight or two high pair and a low.

4. Do not draw for half the pot unless the pot is large. There will be many times you start with a strong hand like A-2-3-4 and the flop comes something like 7-8-9 and also misses your suits. In this spot you have very little hope of winning the high side of the pot and so you are now drawing for half. If there are several players and a lot of money in the pot then it may be worth continuing until the river, but if the pot is small you must fold.

5. Be careful not to get quartered. Getting quartered is when you win only half the low or half the high. It's not that uncommon for two players to both make the nut low holding A-2 so never raise on the river if all you have is a low hand. You will lose money with that raise if someone holds the same low.

6. Do not bluff often. Because there are so many possibilities to make hands in this game it is hard to bluff multiple players out of the pot. You should throw in a bluff now and then when facing only one opponent, but do not try it frequently.

Tips & Warnings

• Play a tight game. Sure, with four cards you have all kinds of possibilities, but those mediocre starting cards often make mediocre straights and flushes.

• Stick to games you are comfortable playing. If the table looks tough get out.