Because Omaha Poker is the second most frequently played poker game, it is important to practice your game, be completely familiar with rules and basic strategy and learn how to become a winning player. Poker is THE thinking mans game so study is necessary for all levels of play.
Omaha Hi-Lo, bet limit games are in a category of their own and understanding the basics of how the game works, first, before you play is definitely to your advantage. At some stage you will find yourself playing competitively because this is what playing poker is all about.
Different levels of play involve different player tactics and what may work for beginner level Omaha Poker Hi-Lo, will not apply in an intermediate or expert level game. However the basic strategy of any game of poker always remains the same and strategy is always derived from the rules of the game.
One of the best places to learn the rules of poker is in an actual game, but not if you are betting money on it. Free games are available online, and this is probably the best place to play.
Bet Limit Omaha High Low Poker has two to ten players per game and the winners split the prize pot; the highest winning hand, with the lowest qualifying hand. In each hand any two hole cards need to be combined with three community (or board) cards to make a hand. To qualify for the low hand, cards need to be 8,7,6,5,4 or lower and the Ace acts in both high and low capacities. High hands are obviously above the “8″ card!
The players are dealt 4 face-down cards each and 5 community cards are dealt into the centre of the table, face-up thus; 3-1-1 in three betting segments. Once this is done the player have to combine their hole card with the community cards to make a hand. They may use any hole cards with any three community cards.
The betting procedure is thus: a forced “Small Blind” is called before dealing the four face-down cards. This is required to be at least half the minimum bet. One player makes the “Big Blind”, also forced, which is the minimum bet. This player is determined by the set of the “Button” in relationship to the dealer. After this the 4 cards are dealt to each player.
The player on the left of the Big Blind, bets, raises, or folds and in a clockwise direction, so do the other players. The small blind may fold and still only lose half the minimum bet, but the Big Blind must act last, then the 3 community cards are turned up. More betting continues, but no more bets are forced, and at each turn another community card is revealed until the final, the “River” card is revealed. This is the signal for the last betting round to take place, and the players reveal their hole cards, and their hand. Winners with both low and high hands split the prize, bet there isn’t always a low hand winner. These hands have to be of five denominations that are no higher than 8′s and it is for this reason that the game is often also called Omaha 8!