Omaha Hi/Low is played nothing like Omaha Hi
Posted: 2008-01-24 14:36:58
These two games seem like they would be played alike. After all you must play your best two cards to win the pot and only real difference is one might qualify for low and take half the pot and the other does not.
First of all Omaha Hi/Low is usually played in a limit style of betting and Omaha Hi is usually a pot limit game. On occasion you will see Omaha Hi/Low played pot limit in cash games, but most all tournaments are usually played limit style.
When playing Omaha Hi/Low you need to be aware that a little over half of all pots will qualify for a split pot, Meaning three cards on the board will be from an Ace to an Eight, You must remember you can only play two and only two cards out of your hand and three on the board to make your best five card hand. Many new players often make the mistake of wanting to play only 1 card and 4 cards on the board as well and wanting to play 3 cards out of your hand, don't fall into this trap.
It's very important to try and play many types of hands you would fold in Omaha Hi. These types of hands include A234 which are premium hands to play in a split pot game as opposed to a high only game. These types of hands are premium hands because the best low hand possible is A2345 ( called a wheel ) and second best would be A2346 and so on.
It's very important to remember that if you pair your low card this is often bad because it changes whats now needed to make the nuts ( best possible hand ) for low, Example: flop is 358 and you have AA27, the turn card is a 2, now you nolonger have the nut low , The nuts for low is now A4 making a wheel. Your low hand went from A2358 on the flop to A2357 on the turn, even though your low hand improved from an Eight low to a Seven low. This is a very bad turn card for you as anyone holding A4 now not olny has the nut low but a straight for the high as well.
In Omaha Hi/Low you want to stay away from hands like 5678 or 4678, or 5789 or these type of hands if you hit them you will likely be playing for only have the pot with little chance to win the whole pot. In high only you would love to see flops with these hands and would not be much of an underdog (about 2 to 1) vs. a player who has AAxx. These hands will often get you trapped because when you do make a low it's not a very good one and that forces you to only like your high hand and if you hit you are usually only winning half of the pot.
Playing hands like 10JQK, 9JQK and 10QKA are good in both games, Even Hi/Low because if you hit this type of hand it is not very likely there will be a split pot, Because it takes three cards below an 8 to qualify.
Pot Limit Omaha is very much an action game and with all the betting going on many think there is lots of bluffing involved. This is not true because there if often someone on a big draw. You can flop top set in this game and be over a 3 to 2 underdog vs. one player with a wrap and a flush draw with two cards to come.
Omaha Hi/Low being a limit game is not as action packed and is much harder to win the total pot when there is a good chance of it making a low hand. This also has very little bluffing because of the price you are getting to make a call.
Like all forms of poker the more you play and learn about the game the better you will be in the long run. Online is a great way to get this experience and watch the players who seem to be winning alot and become the best student you can be.
Good Luck and see you at the UB Tables
UB Team Member
Shawn Rice
