Button and Blinds
Omaha Hi and Omaha Hi/Lo use a button to indicate the theoretical dealer of each hand.
After each hand, the button moves clockwise to the next active player. The player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and must post a small blind. The small blind is half the lower limit bet, rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player to the left of the small blind must post the big blind, equal to the lower limit bet. Example: in a $4-$8 game the blinds would be Small Blind $2.00 and Big Blind $4.00. This replaces the antes in 7-card stud.
Both blinds are immediately in the hand and have options when in clockwise progression the action returns to them. For the Small Blind those options are to call the remainder of any bets made, or to raise if there are still raises remaining (not yet capped).
For the Big Blind those options are to check if no one has raised, to call if someone has raised or to raise if there are still raises remaining (not yet capped). After the flop and each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act.
When a player first sits at an active table, they may post the equivalent of the big blind. To play immediately all players may sit out and wait to become the actual big blind before playing. This rule ensures fairness to all players and stops potential abuses by preventing players from constantly entering games in late position and then leaving before they’re required to post the big blind.
