Omaha Hi-Low is often referred to as eights or better – and is one of the most popular poker games in the world.  Being a split pot game, Omaha Hi-Low is considered by some to be less than profitable because if you do win – you’re usually only winning half the pot. But on the other hand, some players simply love Omaha Hi-low because they know that they can also “scoop” the pot by having a hand that is both the highest and the lowest – which means that the player gets the entire pot.  The object of Omaha Hi-Low for these players is to take home the whole pot every time to take home the biggest bankroll.  While there are many strategies that can be followed when playing Omaha Hi-Low to become the best at the game, there is simply no replacement to just getting online and playing the game firsthand.  Most online games rooms offer Omaha Hi-Low, and since most of these same sites give you the ability to play with fake chips – practicing online is an ideal way to become proficient at this Omaha poker variant.

What is the “Nut Low” in Omaha Hi-Low?

One of the most confusing aspects of Omaha Hi-Low when players first begin playing the game is how to determine the nut-low.  First of all, flushes and straights do not affect player’s low hands.  The best low hand in Omaha Hi-Low is the bicycle or wheel, which is made up of the ace card through the five card.  Low hands are calculated top heavy – which means that a player who is holding eight – six- four- three and ace would lose to a player who is holding a six- four – three- two – ace because the eight is bigger than the six.  For tighter configurations of cards, simply convert the entire card “string” into a number, in this case 86431 is larger than 64321, which makes it simpler when trying to determine the nut low.  Inversely, determining the high can be undertaken in the same fashion.  Players should also remember that if the there is no low hand, the best high hand will scoop the entire pot.  The best low hand cannot have a card higher than eight.

Starting Hands for Omaha Hi-Low

Having a strong starting hand in Omaha Hi-Low is important, as is knowing when to fold and cut your losses.  The best hand for starting in Omaha Hi-Low is the double “suited” ace – ace – two – three.  Because the ace can be considered the best card on the high end and the best card on the low end in Omaha Hi-Low, the ace is a key card. Some professional poker players say that if you don’t have an ace in Omaha Hi-Low, you should go ahead and fold.  Ditching ace-less hands may very well be a sound Omaha Hi-Low strategy.

Flop Tips

Deciding whether to draw to a high or draw to a low in Omaha Hi-Low should always be made pre-flop. If it doesn’t work out, then you can always fold.  There’s a very slim chance that you can “change horses in midstream” when drawing in Omaha Hi-Low, so make your decision and stick to it.