Strategy

Your goal in Omaha high-low is to win both the high and the low, also known as to scoop the pot. It is best to avoid a playing style that frequently gets you quartered or makes you split the pot. In order to steer clear of this you need to be extremely selective about what hands you play, both before and after the flop. Below is a list of DOs and DON’Ts that should improve your game.

Do

• Remember that your goal should be to scoop the pot.
• Often fold on the flop.
• Only play premium starting hands.
• Select tables with loose games. You want five or more players to see the flop on average.
• Learn how to calculate pot odds.
• Only play hands that contain A-2, A-3 or 2-3 for low hand.
• Usually only play hands with four cards (9 and higher) for high hand.
• Fold hands with a 7, 8 or 9 as they have negative expected value.
• Play aggressively when you hit a good flop.
• Often fold your hand on the flop.
• Only play marginal hands in late position, with several players having called before you.

Don’t

• Raise pre-flop, at least very rarely.
• Play after the flop if you do not have nut potential.
• Play too many starting hands.
• Call all the way with only a high or low potential.
• See the flop with four middle cards.
• Raise with A-2 in early position. This will make your opponents fold instead of seeing the flop cheaply.
• Call on the flop with only a low draw when the flop has two high cards.
• Call on the flop with only a high draw when the flop has two low cards.

Starting Hands

Your hand is everything in Omaha high-low. There is not much bluffing involved and the player with the best hand usually wins. The premier starting hands in Omaha high-low are likely to win both the high and the low.

As the most important decisions in Omaha high-low are made pre-flop it is key to have and understanding of what hands to play. Here is a list of the top ten starting hands:

1. A-A-2-3 Double-suited
2. A-A-2-4 Double-suited
3. A-A-2-3 Suited
4. A-A-2-5 Double-suited
5. A-A-2-4 Suited
6. A-A-3-4 Double-suited
7. A-A-2-3 Non-suited
8. A-A-2-2 Double-suited
9. A-A-3-5 Double-suited
10. A-A-2-6 Double-suited