Online Poker » Dealers Choice Games » Double Omaha Hi Lo

Omaha is the second most popular poker variation after Texas Hold'em. While Omaha High-Lo is common, few people know that there are several other types of Omaha available to play. One of these variations is Double Omaha High-Lo. This game is exactly the same as regular Omaha High-Lo except that there are two sets of board cards instead of one. The best low hand and high hand split the pot. You have the option of using either set for the high or low.

Rules of Double Omaha High-Lo

Double Omaha High-Lo is very easy to play if you have experience with traditional Omaha High-Lo. Each player begins with four pocket cards that are placed face down in front of him or her. A betting round begins after the four pocket cards have been dealt. Two sets of three-card flops are placed on the table after betting is complete. This is the key difference between Double Omaha High-Lo and traditional Omaha High-Lo. Only one set of three cards is placed on the table in regular Omaha High-Lo. There is a betting round after the flop. Then, another card, the turn, is added to each set of three cards. Another round of betting occurs after the flop. Finally, one river card is added to each set of community cards and another round of betting begins.

The showdown occurs after the final round of betting. The pot is split in Double Omaha High-Lo. One half of the pot will be given to the best hand while the other half will be given to the best qualifying low hand. Players can use cards from either of the two sets of board cards to make their hand in Double Omaha High-Lo. The high hand in Double Omaha High-Lo is determined based on traditional poker rules. The best hand possible is a royal flush.

The low hand in Double Omaha High-Lo must meet some qualifications in order to be eligible. It must be made up of two cards from a player's hand and three cards from the two sets of community cards. Aces are considered the lowest card when making up the low hand. Low hands are judged from the highest card in the hand. For example, a hand comprised of 2-3-5-6-7 is lower than a hand made up of Ace-2-3-4-8. The best low hand possible is an Ace-2-3-4-5. Any hand that contains a card that is higher than 8 cannot be used to win the low pot.

Double Omaha High-Lo General Information

Occasionally, there will be no qualifying low hand in a game of Double Omaha High-Lo. If this happens, the entire pot is given to the player with the best high hand. One player is eligible to win both halves of the pot if they have the best high and low hands. You do not have to let the other players know whether you are playing to win the high pot or low pot in Double Omaha High-Lo.