Omaha High-Low is unique in that it plays great with fixed betting limits, with pot-limit betting or with no-limit betting rules. With each pot getting split between the best high poker hand and qualifying low hand at showdown, the strategy for this game is fascinating too. This article covers key strategy tips for players new to Omaha Hi-Lo. These will stop you making classic beginners mistakes and help you win money at the tables.
First of all, a big error is covered – playing far too many starting hands. This is followed by a section on what starting hands are the best to choose. Next the importance of scooping the pot is discussed, there are two different methods of doing this. Getting ‘quartered’ is a big problem in Omaha Hi-Lo and spotting situations where this can happen will save you a lot of chips. Finally you will find some words of warning about drawing to a low hand when heads-up.
Cut Down On Those Starting Hands
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With a low pot and a high pot up for grabs in most hands, many players play too many starting hands in this game. They take everything with the potential to make a high hand, then add in those with low potential on top. This can leave new players with 50% or even more of all hands being played.
It is even more important when you are new to a game to stop the big leaks of chips, and playing too many hands is the biggest leak of all. Instead you should play only the very best high hands and make sure that the low hands you choose have some potential to make good high hands on top.
Suited Babies Are The Best Starting Hands
Hands which contain aces and small cards which match their suits are the real premium hands in this poker game. For example A-A-2-3 with just 2 suits is a monster that can win both the high and low portion of the pot. The worst hands to play contain medium ranked cards which are not coordinated. These can get you in trouble with both the 2nd best low and 2nd best high hand at showdown – an expensive combination.
Two Ways To Scoop The Pot in Omaha
Winning both sides of the pot in Omaha Hi-Lo is key to making a big profit in this game. There are two ways of achieving this. When there is no qualifying low hand (30% of the time), the high poker hand will take then entire pot. Remember to choose only the best high-only Omaha hands, it can be expensive ending up with the 2nd nuts in this game.
The other way to scoop the pot is to hit the low and high hands at the same time. This is where the suited babies come into their own, with the ability to win both sides from opponents who are only going for one. There is nothing better in Omaha Hi-Lo than to find yourself with the nuts for both the high and the low hands at the same time.
How To Avoid Getting Quartered in Omaha Hi / Lo
Oftentimes you will tie for one side of the pot, while another player wins the opposite side. This is most common when 2 players both hold A-2 in their hand and split the low side of the pot. One of those players also hits the high (though this could also go to a 3rd player). Danger signs of this occurring include times when someone wakes up betting when a high card hits, or only ever gives heavy action when they are confident in scooping the pot. I also recommend that you have something in the way of backup with a 3rd low card A-2-4-X for example. This can help you to avoid yet another big danger in Omaha Hi-Lo poker – being counterfeited on the turn or river.
Drawing To Half Of The Pot Heads-Up
My final new player mistake is to pay money to draw to a low hand in a heads-up pot. If you have no chance of winning the high side of the pot (for example with a low straight) and you feel your opponent is ‘going high’, then the current size of the pot should help you decide whether to continue.
If the current pot is small, you are putting bets into the pot with the best-case scenario being that you get them back with no profit. This is an obvious losing proposition when you see it written down, however many new players ‘chase the low’ in this way without realizing their error.
When the pot is already large you can profitably call, the overlay of chips already in the middle should be assessed in relation to the number of outs you have to make your low hand before you start calling bets though.
Omaha Hi-Lo is a great game and is available at many US Poker Sites as well as European rooms.
If ever there was a game created for sheer fun and excitement, it has to be Omaha-Hi-Lo! Haven't had the pleasure of playing this quick-fire poker format? Well, you've certainly not lived in your online poker life. This is the sort of game that has humongous pots and even bigger poker hands.
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Jumping straight in and playing is one option. However, getting familiar with both the rules and the strategy will make the game even more enjoyable. You'll be making money with better hands while having an absolute blast! And, at 888poker there are more Omaha-Hi-Lo games than you can shake a stick at.
But, firstly, let's go over a few key strategy points, you'll need to know before getting caught up in this action-packed game.
Omaha-Hi-Lo Strategy – The Main Components
One of the first things you'll need to know about Hi-Lo is that there are two winning hands at showdown: a High Hand and a Low Hand. They get to split the pot 50/50. Not bad! But it gets even better. Make the best Hi and Lo on the river and scoop the lot! 100% of the pot is yours.
The main betting format for Omaha-Hi-Lo is Pot Limit, but you will also find a lot of Fixed Limit games. Ultimately, the choice is yours when it comes to which one you should play. Pot Limit games play a lot like No Limit when you compare pot sizes. Whereas the Fixed Limit games restrict the amount of your stack you can get into the pot to a maximum of 4 times the Big Blind, on each street.
In Omaha MTTs, using Omaha Hi-Low tournament strategy can really help you go deep and make more final tables. It's a case of balancing solid starting hands with good knowledge of how low hands work.
Now, let's get into the mechanics of Omaha-Hi-Lo game strategy, starting with pre-flop hand selection.
Starting Hands
Because there are two winning pots in this format, you should pick starting hands that can scoop both. In fact, one of the main strategy rules of split-pot games is, “Go for the low and back into the high”. A hand like A-A-2-X double-suited gives you the chance at the nut-low and the nut flush (high hand) draws.
Take a look at this Top Ten list of Best Starting Hands:
- A-A-2-3 DS
- A-A-2-4 DS
- A-A-2-3 Suited
- A-A-2-5 DS
- A-A-2-4 Suited
- A-A-3-4 DS
- A-A-2-3 Non-suited
- A-A-2-2 DS
- A-A-3-5 DS
- A-A-2-6 DS
Now many Hi-Lo gurus will fall in love with any A-2-X-X, but not all A-2 hands are created equal. For example, look at the hand A-2-Q-Q double-suited and compare that to A-2-J-8 non-suited. The A-2 with the Queen kickers just beats the J-8 hand into submission. It's not even a fair fight!
So even though the low is an important part of this poker genre, it only makes up 50% of the winning hand. You should look for hands that contain cards that can help in making a winning high hand, too.
Hands that have suited aces, big pairs, or other high cards that can help you make nut flushes or straights, are perfect.
Low Hands
Now going for the Lo and having the best Lo are two entirely different animals in Omaha. It's common to see players calling massive river bets with a Low Hand that is solidly beat.
Have a look at the following board and starting hands. See if you can determine which Low wins:
Player 1's Low reads 7s-6s-4d-2d-Ac: They have used the 7s, 6s and 2d from the board along with the Ac and 4d from their hand make their best possible Low.
Player 2's Low reads 7s-6s-3d-2s-Ah: They have used the 7s, 6s and Ah from the board along with the 2s and 3d from their hand make their best possible Low.
A great way to calculate lows is from top to bottom, with the Ace being the bottom card. So, in this example, even though both players have the A-2, from the top down Player 2's 3d beats Player 1's 4d. https://luckyhacks.netlify.app/big-m-casino-boat-ft-myers.html. And so, Player 2 has the better hand.
Now you can easily see why being able to calculate the best possible Low is so important. It's easy to get beat by just one card. If you find yourself in a situation where your Lo could be beat, folding or just calling (a small bet) is a good option.
In the above scenario, if Player 2 felt they had the best Low Hand, they would likely build a big pot. Where would this leave you? Up the creek without a paddle and sinking fast!
However, once you get more familiar with making and reading Lows, you'll start to know when you have the best of it. If an opponent that you suspect has a Low is just calling, go for it. More than likely they don't have your Low beat and are trying to get to showdown without losing any more chips.
Counterfeit Lows & Backup Cards
While A-2-X-X is a super-strong starting hand, having something like A-2-3-X is even better. Why? Because now you also have a good backup card. What's a backup card, you might ask? Well, these are cards that will “back up” your draw, if one of your Low cards falls on the board.
Remember that in Omaha, players must use 3 cards from the board to form a hand. Therefore, if they happen to have an A-3-4-X hand, the 2 will fill the gap between the A and the 3 quite nicely. And, unless your X-card is a 4 your Low would be beat!
Omaha Hi Low Tips
This is why staying aware of what low cards can counterfeit (match one of your low cards making it useless) is so important. And, don't forget those backup cards, if you really want to make certain your Low comes out on top.
Limp! Limp! Limp!
Omaha is a game of draws – big draws. It's not uncommon to see more than one Low or multiple flush hands in the same suit on the river. And, with players drawing to lots of different highs and lows, there's bound to be a lot of action in this game.
Omaha Hi Lo Poker Strategy
So, getting your chips all-in pre-flop isn't a great idea. In fact, being able to see a flop for cheap is a good thing. If you hit the board hard with nut high and low draws, bang it! Get as many of your chips into the middle as possible. In a Pot Limit game, this isn't that hard to do.
Just make sure that, when you do make your draw, it has a good chance of holding up.
Yes, Position Matters in Omaha!
As with other poker games, in Omaha Hi-Lo position is very important. You should restrict playing early position to premium starting hands – like the ones on the Top Ten list. This will help you conserve chips and avoid having to play your draws out of position.
Playing drawing hands when you're closer to the button just makes more sense. You get to control the pot and your opponents. If a player tries to check-raise you, you can check behind. If they lead out, you can raise and build a big pot for yourself.
Keep in mind that Hi-Lo can be a volatile game because of all the drawing hands and starting hand combinations. So get maximum value for your big draws, by playing more hands in position and minimise weaker ones, by folding more out of position. It's as simple as that!