Low Poker Hand
Once you have studied Omaha Hi-Lo Poker Rules, the next step is to learn Omaha hi-lo hand rankings. In Omaha hi-lo, the pot is divided evenly between the high hand and the low hand.
Low hands in poker can often be confusing for newcomers to the game. Indeed, even experienced players make mistakes reading the low board from time to time. The two key things to remember are: 1. Your lowest five cards count, but these cards must all be different ranks. (Paired cards only qualify as one low card, not two!) 2. In Low Poker, a wild card can be used to represent a card of a rank not already present in the player's hand. It is then sometimes known as a 'fitter'. For example 6-5-4-2-joker would count as a pair of sixes in normal poker with the joker wild, but in ace-to-five low poker the joker could be used as an ace, and in deuce-to-seven low poker it. Each poker player must aim to hit their best five-card poker hand from a combination of the seven cards, i.e., five community plus two hole cards in this poker variation. The player who has the best combination and is still in the hand (not folded) at the end of the all the wagering rounds wins the money wagered for the hand, commonly known as.
The basic idea of poker is to play the strongest poker hands in early position, good hands in mid-position and a few more hands in the late (aka strongest) position. Over time, you'll naturally want to shake things up a bit. For now, stick with this and you'll never find yourself in trouble holding 7-2 off-suit.
The high hand ranking is similar to Texas Holdem and Omaha. Keep in mind that the ranking reflects how rare it is to form a hand. Let’s take a look at all the high hand rankings.
High Hand Rankings (ordered by increasing value)
Hand | Example | Explanation |
---|---|---|
10. High card | Unrelated and unpaired cards | |
9. One pair | Two cards of the same rank | |
8. Two pair | Two different pairs | |
7. Three of a kind (or set) | Three cards of the same rank | |
6. Straight | Five consecutive cards | |
5. Flush | All cards of the same suit | |
4. Full house | Three of a kind with a pair | |
3. Four of a kind (or quads) | Four cards of the same rank | |
2. Straight flush | Five consecutive cards, all of the same suit | |
1. Royal flush | Ace-High Straight Flush |
Low and the Eight or Better Qualifier
Not all hands qualify for the low. Furthermore, if no player makes a low hand, the high wins the entire pot. A valid low hand consists of five different cards, so no pair, ranked eight or lower, with the ace counting as the lowest card. Straights and flushes are ignored, so the following hands are valid low hands.
Hands that contain any pair or any card nine to king do not qualify for the low. So the following hands do not count as low.
Low Hand Rankings
In a low hand, the lower the card denominations are, the stronger the hand is. Low hands are evaluated, starting from the highest rank card (remember, the ace counts as the lowest), in a top-down approach. The player with the lowest card from the top wins. If the cards are even, the second card from the top is taken into account, and so on.
For example, consider that Player A has 8♥5♠4♣3♥2♥, and Player B has 8♥6♠4♣2♥A♣. To determine who has the best low, we first compare the first cards starting from the top. As they both have an eight, the second card from the top is examined. Player A has the smallest, the five, so he wins. Let’s take a look at some examples.
Low Hand Examples (ordered by increasing value)
Example | Name |
---|---|
Worse qualifying low | |
Eight high low | |
Seven high low | |
Seven high low | |
Six high low | |
Six high low | |
The wheel, best possible low! |
Do you have any questions about Omaha hi-lo starting hands? Or more tips to add to this post? Let us know in the comments section below!
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- It is the player’s responsibility to protect their hand at all times.
- One player to a hand. A player may not seek advice as to the play of their hand.
- The English only rule will be enforced.
- Player’s cards must remain in plain view of the dealer and other players at all times.
- Cards speak for themselves.
- Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Other verbal declarations may be binding.
- The poker room is not responsible for chips or cash left on the table in the player’s absence.
- The player is responsible for turning his/her hand over at the showdown.
- The best five cards determine the winning hand.
- Every game has a minimum buy-in. Short buys are not allowed.
- Check and raise is permitted.
- All games are “table stakes” meaning all chips must remain on the table and in play, until the player leaves the game. When cashing out, a player may not return to the same table for 60 minutes, unless he/she buys-in for at least the amount with which he/she had previously left.
- A bet and three raises will be allowed each betting round in limit games. There will be an unlimited amount of raises in no-limit games.
- If a betting round begins with only two players, there is no limit to the raises allowed.
- No string bets allowed. In limit games if a player puts in half the required raise, he/she must complete the raise. In no limit or pot limit games, any amount less than a full raise will be considered a call, unless the player is all-in.
- No splashing the pot.
- Only one live straddle (live bet) is allowed in limit, no-limit, and pot limit games. A player may place a live straddle from the position in front of the big blind or from the button position. The button position has first preference to place a live straddle.
- Show one player, show all players. If a player shows one or both of his/her cards to another player at the table, the player must show the exposed card(s) to everyone at the table.
- There will be no objects allowed on the table other than chips, cards or a reasonably sized “card capper.” Electronic devices may not be actively used while a player has cards and must be kept on the rail or other area off of the playing surface of the table.
- Players may leave their seat for a maximum of 3 missed blinds. Upon the 4th missed blind or 45 minutes (whichever is time is greater) a player may be picked up. If a player has zero chips, they have 15 minutes to return. If there is no waiting list and no seat open, a player’s chips may be picked up in order to give the remaining players an opportunity to get a new player in the absent player’s seat. Management reserves the right to pick up players chips and open the seat to waiting players.
- “Third Man Walking” rule will be strictly enforced. This means if two players are absent from the table, the 3rd player that gets up from the table may not miss a blind. If that player misses a blind, the seat will be given to the next player on the list.
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- No rabbit hunting. (A player may not ask to see the “turn” or “river” card if all other players have folded). Additionally, once a new hand has begun, no decision can be rendered concerning the previous hand.
- Any player dealt in a hand may ask to see a discarded hand at showdown, if that player has called all bets.
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1. ROYAL FLUSH
10, J, Q, K, A all of the same suit
2. STRAIGHT FLUSH
any five card sequence in the same suit (Ex: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
3. FOUR OF A KIND
all four cards of the same rank (Ex: A, A, A, A)
4. FULL HOUSE
three of a kind combined with a pair (Ex: K, K, A, A, A)
5. FLUSH
any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (Ex: 2, 5, 7, 8, 9)
6. STRAIGHT
any five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit
7. THREE OF A KIND
three cards of the same rank without a pair (Ex: K, K, K)
8. TWO PAIR
two separate pairs (Ex: 5, 5, K, K)
9. ONE PAIR
two cards of the same rank
10. HIGH CARD
highest card in your hand
A flat disk called the “Button” shall be used to indicate an imaginary dealer.
At the commencement of play, the dealer will deal each player one card face up to determine the placement of the Button. Whoever receives the highest-ranking card will start with the Button.
The Button will move around the table in a clockwise manner after each round of play.
The player to the immediate left of the Button is required to place a Small Blind bet. The player to the immediate left of the Small Blind bet is required to place a Big Blind bet. The amount and number of blind bets will be posted on a Poker table sign.
Starting with the player to the immediate left of the Button and continuing in a clockwise rotation around the Poker table, the dealer shall deal two rounds of cards face down to each player, the player with the Button being the last player to receive a card each time.
Each player in turn, in a clockwise rotation starting with the player after the Big Blind bet, has the option to call, raise or fold. If no player has raised the bet, then the option to raise is given to both Blind bet(s). After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round shall be considered complete.
The dealer will Tap the table in front of the rack, burn the top card of the deck and place it under the pot. The dealer will proceed to deal three community cards (the Flop) face up in the center of the table.
The next betting round will begin with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the Button who has not folded. Each player may, in clockwise rotation, fold, call, raise or, if preceding players have not made a bet, make an opening bet or check. The betting round shall be considered complete when each player has either folded or called in response to the most recent bet.
Upon completion of the betting round, the dealer will again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fourth community card (the Turn) face up to the right of the Flop.
The next betting round will begin with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the Button who has not folded.
Upon completion of the betting round the dealer will again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fifth community card (the River) face up to the right of the Turn card.
The final betting round will begin with the option to check or bet belonging to the first player to the left of the Button who has not folded.
If more than one player remains in the round of play after the final betting round has been completed, a showdown shall be used to determine the winner of the pot.
Each player remaining in the game will turn their cards over and the dealer will read the cards to determine the highest-ranking five-card high poker hand using, in any combination, their own two cards and the five community cards.
The winner of the pot will be the player with the highest-ranking five-card high poker hand.
In the event of a tie the excess chip is awarded to the first player with cards, clockwise from the dealer Button.
A flat disk called the “Button” shall be used to indicate an imaginary dealer.
At the commencement of play, the dealer will deal each player one card face up to determine the placement of the Button. Whoever receives the highest-ranking card will start with the Button.
The Button will move around the table in a clockwise manner after each round of play.
The player to the immediate left of the Button is required to place a Small Blind bet. The player to the immediate left of the Small Blind bet is required to place a Big Blind bet. The amount and number of all Blind bets will be posted on a Poker table sign.
Starting with the player to the immediate left of the Button and continuing in a clockwise rotation around the Poker table, the dealer shall deal four rounds of cards face down to each player. The player with the Button will be the last player to receive a card each time.
Each player in turn, in a clockwise rotation starting with the player after the Big Blind bet, has the option to call, raise or fold. If no player has raised the bet, then the option to raise is given to both Blind bet(s). After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round shall be considered complete.
The dealer will Tap the table in front of the rack, burn the top card of the deck and place it under the chips in the pot, and proceed to deal three community cards (the Flop) face up in the center of the table.
High Low Poker Hands
The next betting round shall commence with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the Button who has not folded. Each player may, in clockwise rotation, fold, call, raise or, if preceding players have not made a bet, make an opening bet or check. The betting round shall be considered complete when each player has either folded or called in response to the most recent bet.
Upon completion of the betting round, the dealer will again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fourth community card (the Turn) face up to the right of the Flop.
The next betting round will begin with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the Button who has not folded.
Upon completion of the betting round, the dealer will again burn the top card of the deck and then deal a fifth community card (the River) face up to the right of the Turn.
Poker Hand Print Out
The final betting round will begin with the option to bet or check belonging to the first player to the left of the Button who has not folded.
If more than one player remains in the round of play after the final betting round has been completed, a showdown shall be used to determine the winner of the pot.
Each player remaining in the game shall form a five-card poker hand by using two of the four cards dealt to the player and three of the five community cards.
In High-Low Split Eight or Better poker, the player with the highest-ranking five-card Poker hand and the player with the lowest-ranking five-card Poker hand, will divide the pot equally. If there is an extra $1, that chip will be given to the player with the High hand.
In Omaha High-Low Split Eight or Better poker, if none of the remaining players has a low-hand, the entire pot will be awarded to the player with the highest-ranking High Poker hand.
A player may form two different hands of five cards each, enabling that player to contend for both the High hand and Low hand share of the pot.
A player may use the same five-card grouping to make a High hand and a Low hand. An Ace may be used concurrently as a low-ranking card to satisfy a Low hand and as a high-ranking card to satisfy a High hand.
Each poker table shall be restricted to a maximum of eight players. Each player who plays in a round of play may be required to place an ante.
Starting with the first player to the left of the dealer and continuing in a clockwise rotation around the poker table, the dealer will deal two rounds of cards face down and one round of cards face up to each player.
Once each player has received three cards, the first betting round shall begin by comparing the up-card of each player. The player with the lowest card will start the betting round. In the event that two or more up-cards are of the same rank, the up-cards shall then be ranked by suit with the highest to lowest ranked suits in order as follows: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs.
Following the bet placed by the player with the low card, each following player, proceeding in a clockwise rotation, may fold, call or raise the bet. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round is complete.
Upon completion of the first betting round, the dealer will bring the chips into the center of the table and burn the top card of the deck and place it under the pot. Starting with the first remaining player to the dealer’s left, a fourth card face up will be dealt to each player remaining in the game. The player with the highest-ranking poker hand showing will initiate the action by betting or checking. If the highest-ranking poker hand showing is held by two or more players, the player closest to the left of the dealershall be required to bet or check.
Following the initial bet or check, each subsequent player, proceeding in a clockwise rotation, may fold, call, raise or, if the preceding players have not made a bet, check. Each player may check until a bet has been made. Once a bet has been made, the next player in the clockwise rotation may fold, call or raise. After the last player has responded to the most recent bet, the betting round is complete.
The dealer will then deal two additional rounds of cards, face up, to each player remaining in the game. Each round will be followed by a betting round. Prior to each round of cards being dealt, the dealer shall burn the top card of the deck and place it under the pot.
If there are enough cards remaining in the deck/stub, each remaining player will be dealt a seventh and final card.
If there are not enough cards remaining in the deck to give each remaining player a seventh card, the dealer may shuffle the burn cards, burn a card, then deal a seventh card to each player. If there are not enough cards remaining including the burn cards to issue a seventh card, the top card of the deck shall be burned and a common card shall be dealt face up in the center of the table. If there is one or no card remaining in the deck when a common card is to be dealt, the dealer shall shuffle the burn cards, burn a card and then deal the common card.
If more than one player remains after the final betting round, a showdown will be used to determine the winner of the pot. Each player remaining in the game shall form a five-card poker hand from the seven cards that they were dealt. The winner of the pot will be the player with the highest ranking five-card high hand.
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