Basic Strategy

This means that you are being very selective as to which starting hands you play, as well as which hands you play after the flop.

Below is a checklist of skills and advice that can help you improve your chances of winning at Omaha Hi-Lo.

Advice for Overall Play

• Seldom raise before flop.
• Remember that your aim is to scoop the pot.
• Be able to fold on the flop very often.
• Play premium starting hands.
• Table selection. Only play in loose games where five or more players see the flop on average.
• Be skilled at calculating pot odds.
• In general, you should only play hands that include A-2, A-3 or 2-3 for low hand, though a backup low card of course confers additional value.
• You should usually only play hands that have four cards (9 and higher) for high hand. In order to mix up your play, you should occasionally play A-4 suited and A-5 suited if the other two cards also work well with the hand.
• Fold most hands that include a 7, 8 or 9. Most of these hands have a negative expected value.
• When you hit a good flop, play more aggressively.
• Play hands that are capable of scooping the pot.
• Usually, do not play after the flop if you do not have the nut potential.
• Only occasionally bluff on the river if there is not a low hand out.
• You should bluff infrequently.
• Only play the more marginal starting hands in late position, when several players have called in front of you.

The Most Common Errors

• Playing too many starting hands.
• Calling all the way with only a high or low potential.
• Seeing flops with four middle cards, like 6-7-8-9.
• Raising with A-2 in early position and making players fold instead of seeing the flop cheaply with more players in.
• Calling on the flop with only a low draw when the flop comes with two high cards.
• Calling on the flop with only a high draw when the flop comes with two low cards.