How To Bet In Omaha Poker

Owing to its frequently large pots, Omaha Hi/Lo (also called ‘Omaha High Low’, ‘Omaha H/L’, ‘Omaha/8’ or ‘Omaha 8-or-better’) has become a hugely popular game around the world. Each player in an Omaha Hi/Lo game is dealt four private cards (‘hole cards’) that belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the ‘board’. All players use exactly two cards from their four hole cards in conjunction with exactly three cards from the board to make the best five-card poker hand possible. The pot is divided between the best hand for high and the best hand for low – hence the name, Omaha Hi/Lo. You may use different combinations of two cards from your hand to make your high hand and your low hand, but in each hand you must use precisely two from your hand and three from the board – no more, no less. Visit the poker hands page to view the rankings of hands in Omaha Hi/Lo.

Omaha Hi/Lo is played with an ‘8-or-better’ qualifier, which means that a low hand must consist of five different cards – ranked eight or below – to be eligible to win the low portion of the pot. Low hands in Omaha Hi/Lo are determined in exactly the same way they’re determined in 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Omaha Hi/Lo uses the ‘Ace to Five’ or ‘California’ system for ranking low hands. Straights and flushes do not count against a hand, and Aces are always low in reading the low hand, so the best possible hand is a ‘wheel’: 5, 4, 3, 2, A. To help understand the ranks of low hands, the following sample qualifying low hands (not a complete list) are ranked from least powerful (#1, will rarely win the low half of the pot) to most powerful (#10, the nuts):

Betting in Omaha poker works exactly like it does in Texas hold'em, with a small and big blind as well as a rotating button, and four betting rounds following each round of dealing — preflop, flop, turn, river. World-class Omaha poker players can play with a wide range of hands profitably in position. Don’t be fooled by this though, as these players have many years of experience in the game with exceptional post-flop skills.If you’re new to PLO, you should only stick to stronger cards like the ones presented in our hand chart of 30 best Omaha.

1. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4
2. 8, 7, 6, 5, 3
3. 8, 6, 4, 2, A
4. 8, 4, 3, 2, A
5. 7, 6, 5, 4, 2
6. 7, 6, 5, 2, A
7. 7, 5, 4, 3, 2
8. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
9. 6, 4, 3, 2, A
10. 5, 4, 3, 2, A

Types of Omaha Poker Games. Pot Limit Omaha Poker - A player can bet what is in the pot. This is the most popular form of Omaha Poker. No Limit Omaha Poker - A player can bet any amount, up to all of their chips. Fixed Limit Omaha Poker - There is a specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting. Omaha is similar to hold'em in using a three-card flop on the board, a fourth board card, and then a fifth board card. Each player is dealt four hole cards (instead of two) at the start. Like in hold'em, the minimum bet allowed in Omaha is always the equivalent of the big blind. In a $1/$2 PLO poker game, the minimum a player can bet is $2. However, while in no-limit hold'em player.

Note that a low hand is always ranked from its highest card downwards. So for example, hand #9 is known as a ‘Six-low’ because its highest card is a Six. Hand #5 is a ‘Seven-low’, and Hand #1 is an ‘Eight-low’. In poker slang, you distinguish between close low hands by going further down the ranks, so hand #9 would be called a ‘Six-Four low’, which beats hand #8, a ‘Six-Five low’.

Also remember that straights and flushes do not count against your low hand, so making a qualifying low that is also a straight or a flush is a very powerful hand, that could win both the high and low halves of the pot. That’s called a ‘scoop’.

Types of Omaha Hi/Lo Games

Omaha Hi/Lo can be played in the following formats:

• Limit Omaha Hi/Lo – Specific betting limit applied in each game and on each round of betting.
• Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo – Bets are limited to the amount of chips in the pot.
• No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo – A player can bet all of the chips he has available.
• Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo – The game alternates between rounds of Limit and Pot-Limit. The blinds are increased when the game switches from Pot-Limit to Limit, to ensure that the stake levels are consistent.

Rules for Playing Omaha Hi/Lo

In Omaha Hi/Lo, a marker called ‘the button’ or ‘the dealer button’ indicates which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise from the button posts the ‘small blind’, the first forced bet. The player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the ‘big blind’, which is typically twice the size of the small blind, but the blinds can vary depending on the stakes and betting structure being played.

In Limit games, the big blind is the same as the small bet, and the small blind is typically half the size of the big blind but may be larger depending on the stakes. For example, in a $2/$4 Limit game the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2. In a $15/$30 Limit game, the small blind is $10 and the big blind is $15.

In Pot Limit and No Limit games, the games are referred to by the size of their blinds (for example, a $1/$2 Omaha Hi/Lo game has a small blind of $1 and a big blind of $2).

Now, each player receives their four hole cards. Betting action proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with the player ‘under the gun’ (immediately clockwise from the big blind).

Pre-Flop

After seeing his or her hole cards, each player now has the option to play his or her hand by calling or raising the big blind. The action begins to the left of the big blind, which is considered a ‘live’ bet on this round. That player has the option to fold, call or raise. For example, if the big blind was $2, it would cost $2 to call, or at least $4 to raise. Action then proceeds clockwise around the table.

Note: The betting structure varies with different variations of the game. Explanations of the betting action in Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, and Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo can be found below.

Betting continues on each betting round until all active players (who have not folded) have placed equal bets in the pot.

The Flop

After the first round of betting is complete, the ‘flop’ is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. Another round of betting ensues. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, all bets and raises on the flop are in increments of the small bet (for example, $2 in a $2/$4 game).

The Turn

When betting action is completed for the flop round, the ‘turn’ is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in an Omaha Hi/Lo game. Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. Another round of betting ensues. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, bets and raises on the turn are in increments of the big bet (for example, $4 in a $2/$4 game).

The River

When betting action is completed for the turn round, the ‘river’ is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in an Omaha Hi/Lo game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. A final betting round ensues.

The Showdown

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last person to bet or raise shows their cards, unless there was no bet on the final round in which case the player immediately clockwise from the button shows their cards first. The player with the best five-card hand for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best five-card hand for low wins the other half. Remember, in all Omaha games, players must use two (and only two) of their four hole cards in combination with exactly three cards from the board. In the event of identical hands, the high and low shares of the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands. In the event that no hand qualifies for low (i.e. is an ‘eight low’ or better), the best hand(s) for high wins the whole pot.

After the pot is awarded, a new Omaha Hi/Lo game is ready to be played. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.

Limit, Pot Limit, No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo

Omaha Hi/Lo rules remain the same for Limit, No Limit and Pot Limit poker games, with a few exceptions:

Limit Omaha Hi/Lo

Betting in Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is in pre-determined, structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all bets and raises are of the same amount as the big blind. On the turn and the river, the size of all bets and raises doubles. In Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, up to four bets are allowed per player during each betting round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise).

Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo

The minimum bet in Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always bet up to the size of the pot.

Minimum raise: The raise amount must be at least as much as any previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10).

Maximum raise: The size of the pot, which is defined as the total of the active pot, plus all bets on the table, plus the amount the active player must first call before raising.

Example: If the size of the pot is $100, and there is no previous action on a particular betting round, a player may bet a maximum of $100. After that bet, the action moves to the next player clockwise. That player can either fold, call $100, or raise any amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum. The maximum bet in this case is $400 – the raiser would first call $100, bringing the pot size to $300, and then raise $300 more, making a total bet of $400.

In Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.

No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo

The minimum bet in No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always bet as much more as they want, up to all of their chips.

Minimum raise: In No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, the raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an example, if the first player to act bets $5 then the second player must raise a minimum of $5 (total bet of $10).

Maximum raise: The size of your stack (your chips on the table).

In No Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.

Omaha Hi/Lo is growing very fast in popularity, especially with the exposure of online poker. So while learning the rules of Omaha Hi/Lo can take some getting used to, it is an entertaining poker variant that many players have learned to enjoy.

Learn How to Play Omaha Hi/Lo for Free

If you are unfamiliar with Omaha Hi/Lo, we recommend you try that poker game out to get a feel for how the game is played. You are always welcome to play on the free poker tables at the poker rooms, so that you can sharpen your skills before playing real money poker.

If you’re new to the game of poker or want to master another variant aside from Texas Hold’em, understanding the rules and format of Omaha poker is important.

Omaha poker is similar to Texas Hold’em in most respects, apart from the crucial fact that it involves four hole cards private to each player, rather than two hole cards. After each community card reveal, players must decide whether to check, bet, raise or fold in order to form the most valuable five-card hand that includes exactly two hole cards. To learn more about the rules of poker, visit our poker school.

Types of Omaha Games

There are different types of Omaha poker, the two most popular of which are pot-limit Omaha and Omaha hi-lo. Variants of Omaha poker include:

• Omaha Hi: In this version, the highest five-card hand takes the pot. The pot limit betting structure means that crushing pre-flop all-ins are not possible.
• Omaha Hi-Lo: Hi-lo Omaha is a variation where the pot is split between the highest and lowest hands. The best possible hand is one in which the same player holds both the highest and lowest hands at the same time, thus winning the pot. The player with the best high hand takes half of the pot at showdown, while the player with the best low hand takes the other half. But in order to qualify as a low hand, the player must have five unpaired cards ranked 8 or below.

Omaha Rules

Omaha poker is the second most popular poker variant behind Texas Hold’em and is best played between two to ten players. The rules are as follows:

1. One player is the dealer, with the small and big blind situated to the left of the button. Betting action proceeds clockwise around the table.
2. Both the small blind and the big blind make forced bets and put money in the pot before the cards are dealt. Each player is then dealt four cards (holes) face down.
3. Once the hole cards are dealt, the first round begins with the player sitting to the left of the big blind. Players must choose two of their four hole cards when forming the best hand possible; no more, no fewer, exactly two hole cards must be used in Omaha.
4. With each turned community card a round of betting proceeds. Players must choose whether to bet, raise or fold each round. This begins with the flop, where a card is burnt and three community cards are dealt face up.
5. After the second round of betting comes the turn, where another card is burnt and a fourth community card is revealed. Another round of betting follows.
6. The river follows where another card is burnt and a fifth and final community card is revealed. The final round of betting follows.
7. Lastly comes the showdown. Using the best five-card combination of their hole cards and community cards, remaining players show their hands. The first bettor or last raiser must show their cards first.

The Blinds

Like Texas Hold’em, Omaha poker features forced bets called the ‘blinds’.

How To Omaha Poker

Blinds are a pair of bets – one small and one big – that are made before the cards are dealt and rotate around the table with the dealer. They are situated to the left of the dealer, with the small blind to the immediate left and the big blind found next to the small blind.

Both the small and the big blind constitute the starting pot which all other players bet against.

Player Betting Options

During each betting round, players must decide whether to check, fold, bet, call or raise. Which they opt for depends on the betting variant, with Omaha poker following into the following variants:

• Pot-limit Omaha: In this variation, the maximum amount that can be bet is the sum of the chips in the pot. The minimum bet is the same as the size of the big blind. If a player chooses to raise, he must raise at least the amount of the previous bet or raise in that same round.
• Fixed limit Omaha: With fixed limit Omaha, a pot can only be raised a maximum of four times and the bet or raise must be equal to the size of the blinds. Betting is in pre-determined, structured amounts.
• No limit Omaha: No limit Omaha is the most aggressive variant available. The minimum bet in no-limit is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can bet or raise as much as they desire and at any point during the betting

Start of the Game (Pre-Flop and the Flop)

Once a player has received their hole cards, they can play their hand by calling or raising the big blind. The first action begins to the left of the big blind. Once they have decided to call, raise or fold, the action proceeds clockwise around the table. Betting continues on each betting round until all players have placed equal bets into the pot.

After the first round of betting, the flop is dealt face-up on the board. The flop includes the first three community cards.

Another round of betting follows.

During the Game (The Turn and the River)

Once a round of betting has concluded post-flop, the turn is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card. Play begins once again with the active player clockwise from the button. In fixed-limit Omaha, bets and raises on the turn are in increments of the big bet.

How To Bet In Omaha Poker Odds

Once the turn is complete, the river is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in Omaha poker.

The final round of betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button.

End of the Game (The Showdown)

When the final betting round is complete, the remaining active players must show their cards. If there is more than one remaining player, the last person to bet or raise will show their hand. If no bets take place during the final round, the player who is immediately clockwise from the button must show their hand first.

How To Bet In Omaha Poker Tournaments

Once all hands have been shown, the player with the best five-card hand is named the winner. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

Recap

The game begins with four hole cards that are private to the player and then a series of betting rounds proceed, during which various community cards are revealed face-up. The aim is for players to form the strongest five-card hand using exactly two of their hole cards and three community cards, and then judge whether to call, raise or fold according to what they feel will do best against opponents. The game finishes when the player with the most valuable five-card hand is deemed the winner.

How To Bet In Omaha Poker

Poker Globe House Rules

How To Win Omaha Poker

Poker Globe allows players to play at multiple tables or in multiple games simultaneously. When entering a cash table, players must pay a fee that’s equal to that table’s lower limit stake or small blind. A player may also choose to temporarily sit-out from a poker table. In the event that two or more active players reach showdown when holding equal ranking hands, the winner is determined by card value, or the kicker if the hands remain tied.