Omaha 5 H/L

Overview

5 Сard Omaha Hi-Low (the variation of 5 Сard Omaha Hi) uses a 52-card card deck. 2 to 9 players can take part in 5 Сard Omaha Hi-Low. 5 community cards are dealt face up. The game uses a 52-card card deck. 5 community cards are dealt face up. The key factor in 5 Сard Omaha Hi-Low is that the pot is split at showdown between the highest poker hand and the ‘lowest’ poker hand. To qualify for a low hand players must have 5 different cards ranked 8 or below ("eight or better"), 2 from their own hand and 3 from the board. The best low hand being that with 5 different ‘smallest’ cards – the best possible is A-2-3-4-5.

Game Types

• Limit – bet as well as raise is agreed in advance. For example, in a $1/2 Limit game, in first two rounds both bet and raise must be equal to $1. In last two rounds bet and raise must be equal to $2.
• Pot Limit – the maximum bet and raise shouldn't exceed the current pot amount. Maximum raise is the size of the pot, which is defined as the total of the active pot plus all bets on the table plus the double amount the active player must first call. For example, if the pot amount is $10 and the first player bets $10, the second player could bet a total of $40:
  • $10 is the active pot;
  • $10 is the bet sum on table;
  • $20 is the double call.
• No Limit – there is no maximum bet limit. Any player makes any bet in any betting round. Minimum bet is equal to big blind.

Betting

The game consists of initial bank formation by the blinds, four betting rounds and showdown.

Blinds

Before a game starts the player on the dealer's left posts a small blind, and the player on the small blind's left posts a big blind bet. Big blind usually doubles the small blind bet.

Pre-Flop

Each player gets five hole cards, cards that the other players cannot see. The player on the big blind's left begins a round of betting. This player can do one of the following:

• Call – equal the amount bet in the big blind;
• Raise – increase the bet;
• Fold – surrender his cards.

The same action can make each player when it is their turn to bet. When all the players make equal bets in the pot, betting round is completed and the game goes to the flop.

Flop

Three cards are dealt face-up on the board in this round. This is known as ‘the flop’. Betting on the flop begins with the player on the dealer's left.

Turn

When the betting action is completed for the flop round, the ‘turn’ is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card.

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. The final betting round begins.

Showdown

When all bets get equal, it is time to show the cards. The last player who bets or raises during the final betting round shows his cards first. If during the last betting round all the remaining players are checking (nobody betting), the first player to the left from dealer shows his cards first. The other players reveal their cards moving clockwise around the table. If player’s current hand is weaker than winning hand shown, he may muck his cards. The best five-card hand using two hole cards and three community cards wins.

Determining the Winner

The player with the best five-card hand (two hole cards plus three community cards) for high wins half the pot, and the player with the best hand for low wins the other half. If there are several players with low hand, a winner is determined by the "high" card of the combination which is the lowest card in this case (then, the second high card, etc). If there are several players with equal low hands, their pot share is split between them evenly. In the event that no hand qualifies for low, the best hand for high wins the whole pot.

The same player can have both the best high and low hands using two different hole cards and three different community cards. The same ace may simultaneously be a part of high hand and low hand.