Rules for Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (eight or better)
In a similar fashion to the pot-limit Omaha game, players are dealt four down cards and are expected to make the best five-card hand. Again to do so, you must take two cards out of your hand and combined those with three cards from the community in order to make the five card hand. However, unlike pot-limit Omaha, this is a game of split pots, meaning that at least two different pots could be awarded at the end of each hand. Omaha 8/b games are typically played without a declaration, meaning that you do not have to announce whether or not you are attempting to win a high hand or as a low hand. Players can win both halves of the pot, which is typically referred to as “scooping” the pot.
In order to win the high half of the pot, players must make the best five-card hand. These hands follow the same hand rankings of all other poker games and there will be a high hand made in every pot; however, the rules are slightly different when it comes to winning the low half of the pot. In order to make a low hand and there is not a guarantee that a low will be made in every pot that is played. In order to make a low hand, players must have two cards in their hand, along with three from the community that are at least eight or lower. Aces are played as both high and low cards, so the cards that can be included in the low are 8 through A. Should more than one player make a low hand, the winner is determined by the lower highest card. As an example, A2345 is the best low hand in the game as the 5 is the lowest card that a low hand can start out with.
The hand follows the typical action of Omaha and Holdem games in that players must decide before the flop if they wish to call, raise, or fold. Likewise, similar rules of action and order follow throughout the hand – from the flop, turn, and eventually, to the river. Similarly, like other pot limit games, players are only allowed to bet up to the size of the pot, unless the size of the pot is greater than the amount of chips they have remaining, in which case a player would be termed as “all-in,” and side pots can be created which the all in player cannot participate in.
Once the hand has been completed the winners of the pot are determined by finding both the best high hand and the best low hand. Should a low hand qualify, requiring at least three cards on the community to be eight or lower, then two separate pots are awarded. If there is not a qualifying low, then only a high hand winner is awarded. However, should more than one player tie for either the high pot, or the low pot if there is a qualifying hand made, either the high or low pot (depending on which is tied) is divided again evenly to the number of players which tie. If the other pot is won without tying, that pot is awarded in full to the winning player.
This process is referred to as “quartering,” because instead of splitting the pot, a player only ends up winning a quarter of it. Both pots can be split if there are tied hands on both halves and a low hand qualifies. Likewise, a player can win both parts or all of the high and the low hand if their hand qualifies as the best hand in both pots
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