Omaha Hi/Lo Poker - (Rules)

Omaha Hi/Lo
Introduction
Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better (Omaha Hi/Lo), a game for between 2-10 players, has gained popularity, both in the US and abroad, due to its highly challenging game play and many facetted game rules.
A hand of Omaha Hi/Lo consists of up to four Betting Rounds. After the placing of the Blind Bets (see The Blind Bets below), each player receives four private, facedown "Pocket Cards". Throughout the hand, five face-up "Community Boardcards" are placed in the center of the table, to be shared by all the players.
After the fourth and final Betting Round is complete, there is a "Showdown". The two players that create the highest and lowest (with no card higher in value than eight) ranking (valued), five card, Poker hands, using any combination of two of their four Pocket Cards and any three of the five Community Boardcards, split the Pot 50%-50% (if one player creates both the highest and lowest ranking Poker hands, that player receives the entire Pot

Omaha Hi/Lo
The Blind Bets
The first player "Sitting-in", in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer, places the "Small Blind" Bet (half the table's Lower Limit Stake - on tables with Stakes higher than $1 the Small Blind is rounded down to the nearest dollar) (see Betting Rounds & Limits below).
The second player Sitting-in, in a clockwise fashion to the left of the Dealer, places the "Big Blind" Bet (equal to the table's Lower Limit Stake).

The Pocket Cards - The First Deal
The Dealer distributes four facedown "Pocket Cards" to each player. The cards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, one at a time, starting with the player to the left of the Big Blind.

The First Betting Round Betting Limit: Lower Limit Stake
The first player to the left of the Big Blind initiates the first Betting Round (see the Betting Rounds & Limits below). The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each player acting in turn. In this Betting Round, each player is required to at least "Call" the Big Blind, in order to remain in the game. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Lower Limit Stake.

"The Flop" - The Second Deal
The Dealer places the first three "Community Boardcards", face-up, in the center of the table. These cards are shared by all the players.

The Second Betting Round Betting Limit: Lower Limit Stake
The first "active" (has not Folded) player to the left of the Dealer initiates the second Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Lower Limit Stake.

"The Turn" - The Third Deal
The Dealer places a fourth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the table.

The Third Betting Round Betting Limit: Higher Limit Stake
The first active player to the left of the Dealer initiates the third Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Higher Limit Stake.

"The River" - The Fourth & Final Deal
The Dealer places a fifth Community Boardcard, face-up, in the center of the table.

The Fourth and Final Betting Round Betting Limit: Higher Limit Stake
The first active player to the left of the Dealer initiates the fourth Betting Round. The Betting Round then proceeds, in a clockwise fashion, around the table, with each active player acting in turn. The Betting in this Round is set at the table's Higher Limit Stake

The Showdown
Once the fourth Betting Round has been completed, there is a "Showdown" (if more than one player remains active - see The Showdown below). In the Showdown, each active player combines any combination of two of their four Pocket Cards, and any three of the five

Community Boardcards, to create:
a. The lowest ranking (valued), five card, Poker hand possible, with no card higher in value than eight (see the Poker Hand Ranking Chart section of this site); Or
b. The highest ranking, five card, Poker hand possible; Or
c. Both the highest and lowest ranking Poker hands possible

The two active players who create the highest and lowest ranking Poker hands split the Pot 50%-50%, minus the "Rake"
a. Should one active player create both the highest and lowest ranking Poker hands, that player receives the entire Pot, minus any All-in Pots and the Rake.
b. If there is no qualifying low hand (with no card higher in value than eight), the player with the highest ranking hand receives the entire Pot, minus any All-in Pots and the Rake.