Fixed limit Omaha hi-low – sometimes called Omaha 8-or better – is the ultimate game of draws. At showdown the pot is split between the best high and low hands, to qualify for a low you need 5 different cards 8 or lower. Hands are made up of exactly 2 cards from your hand and 3 from the board. Different cards may be used to determine the high and low hands at showdown.
The large number of hand combinations can make fixed limit Omaha hi-low strategy seem complex. However this can be broken down into the following simple tips.
Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Low Strategy Tip #1 – When To Enter The Pot.
The most important decision in Omaha Hi-Low is made before the flop. Whether to enter the pot is determined by many factors including your cards, table position and the playing styles of your opponents. You will often be getting a good price to draw after the flop, so selecting only premium hands to play before the flop becomes especially important. This ensures that you are not ‘priced in’ to calling with the second best holding later in the hand.
Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Low Strategy Tip #2 – Play Only Hands with ‘Scoop’ Potential
The best fixed limit Omaha hi-low starting hands are those with the potential to win both the high and the low parts of the pot. Winning both is known as ‘Scooping’ and must be your objective with every hand played. Examples of strong hands with scoop potential include those with an ace and other suited low cards. For example A-2-4-K double suited can easily win the low pot with the small cards and the high pot with a flush or small straight.
Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Low Strategy Tip #3 – Hands Which Play Better Heads-Up
Some hands play better against one or two opponents - while others are better when played multi-way. For example A-2-3-4 suited to the ace has great scoop potential and can be played multi-way. While A-A-3-K may win the high side of the pot without improving as well as the low side, the best chance of scooping with this hand is to cut down the number of opponents by raising pre-flop.
Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Low Strategy Tip #4 – Avoid Middle Cards
Hands such as 7-8-9-10 are not playable in fixed limit Omaha Hi-Low. In order to win the high pot you would usually need a straight, this can easily become second best to an opponent playing picture card hands. If you make the top end of a lower straight then the pot will be split with a low hand – and there is a danger of losing the whole pot to a flush or even full house.
Fixed Limit Omaha Hi-Low Strategy Tip #1 – Don’t Get ‘Quartered’
Playing low-only hands in fixed limit Omaha hi-low runs the risk of being ‘quartered’. This describes the situation in which you share the low side of the pot while an opponent takes the high side. With weak low hands, especially those not containing an ace, it is often best to fold in the early betting rounds. This becomes more important if you are between two opponents who may start a ‘raising war’ with high and low hands.
