Omaha Hi Lo Rules are Easy to Follow

People who understand the basics of Texas Hold'Em will catch onto Omaha Hi-Lo rules quickly, but it's a title that anyone can learn in time. People all over the world love it but as the name suggests, it originated in the US and remains popular here today. Before getting involved in any real-money session, people should take the time to study it carefully so as not to lose big over silly mistakes.

In this poker variant, the main difference is that there are both high and low hands and payouts can be received for either. Thus, individuals will need to pay careful attention to some possible combinations. Whereas an Ace through five combination may be considered low depending upon what a person's opponents are holding, it may very well be a high one, too, since it's technically a straight. Therefore, it's important to pay attention to what others may have - sometimes even more so than in other types of Hold'Em.

Progression is the same as in Texas Hold'Em, too, with the person to the left of the dealer chipping in the small blind and the big blind paid by the person to the left of that individual. According to Omaha Hi-Lo rules, the big blind is a set amount and the small one is half. The dealer chip, sometimes referred to as the 'button', is passed around the table so that everyone has their turn at the blinds. However, there may also be a fixed dealer as the blinds themselves move around the table, too. Each person gets four cards dealt face down prior to the flop, turn and river, and wagering rounds take place after each one.

The flop, turn, and river show the community cards that are to be used by everyone at the table; the flop consists of three while the turn and river are only one each. The other main difference here is that individuals MUST use two of the ones they are holding personally in order to create the best hand possible. During the process, each person will place a bet after receiving the personal cards, after the flop, after the turn, and after the river. This helps people raise the pot and also gives them an opportunity to fold if things aren't going their way.

Once the river has passed and everyone has placed their final wagers, all of the hands are compared. In the online variation of the title, winnings are tallied by a computer and paid out accordingly. In land-based venues, though, the dealer will determine who the winner is based upon the highest and the lowest hands at the table. It does take some time to get used to, especially after having learned that the high hands always win, but it can serve as a breath of fresh air for those who need a break from the normal. Enjoying some free rounds may just help people who are new to the game learn to play the best online Hold'Em of all!