Omaha Hi-Low (8 or Better) is a game of wits, skill and luck, combined into one exiting poker gaming experience. Because players have so many cards to work with, unlike Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo can be a very expensive game for those who do not invoke at least a basic Omaha Hi-Low strategy. The expense factor comes as fewer players will Fold at the start of the hand, as is usually the case in Texas Hold'em.

This article is intended to offer basic, but essential, Omaha Hi-Lo strategies. While it does not involve the most in-depth strategies used by masters of the game, it does provide very useful tips for both novices and veterans of Omaha Hi-Lo Poker.

Before implementing an Omaha Hi-Lo strategy, players must understand the rules of the game. If you are unfamiliar with the rules, please read the rules of Omaha Hi-Lo (8 or Better) poker first. I will provide a brief summary, but it will not teach you the game.

Omaha Hi-Lo (8 or Better) Quick Rules Guide

Players receive 4 Hole cards. 5 Community cards are dealt throughout the hand to the center of the table. Each player must use exactly 2 Hole cards and 3 Community cards to create the best possible High hand, then the best possible qualifying Low hand. Players may use different Hole Cards and Community cards for high and low hands, so long as they use 2+3 to do it.

A qualifying Low hand (8 or Better) in Omaha Hi-Lo is having no combination better than 8-high. Straights and Flushed are not counted as combinations in Omaha Hi-Lo, therefore the best possible qualifying Low hand is: "A-2-3-4-5". The worst possible qualifying Low hand is: "4-5-6-7-8".

A "Nut Low" hand means you are holding the best possible Low hand. Novice players may not recognize this, but it is quite simple and very important in a winning Omaha Hi-Lo strategy. The easiest way to recognize a "Nut Low" hand is to "Remember 2+3". If 2 of your 4 Hole Cards are A-2, you have a Nut Low hand. So long as there are 3 Community Cards 8 or lower, without pairing, adding your A-2 will create the lowest possible hand. Another scenario would be holding 2-3 Hole Cards with an Ace on the board. Again, so long as 2 more Community cards are 8 or below without pairing, you have "Nut Low". Players should bet high on a "Nut Low" hand, because at worst you will split the Low pot with another player - you cannot lose!

Much like the Nut Low hand, a Nut Flush is having the highest possible Flush at the table. Players must recognize a Nut Flush in order to take full advantage of a profitable pot. Here's an example of a Nut Flush:

Hole Cards: 2h-Ah
Community Cards: Jh-4h-8h

It is likely more than one player will have a Heart-Flush, but by holding the Ace of hearts, you know you have the highest possible Flush - a Nut Flush.

Another example:

Hole Cards: Kh-4h
Community Cards: Ah-5h-Jh

It's the same situation. The Ace is on the board, but you have the highest possible follow-up - the King of Hearts. Again, you have the "Nut Flush".

In Omaha Hi-Lo, after the Flop, a player has already seen 7 of his 9 cards. This gives the player a much higher rate of knowing what his best hand is before the last Community Cards are dealt. At this point, a player should know how many Outs he has available to him. An Out is a card that will complete or better a hand.

For example, of your Hole cards are 4h-5h-7c-Ad, and the Flop is 6s-7h-Kh, you have 17 Outs. Another heart would give you a Flush, that's nine (thirteen minus the four in your hand and on the table). A 3 or 8 would give a Straight, that's six more (remeber not to count the 3h, 8h twice). A 7 would be 3 of a Kind - not the greatest hand, but still 2 Outs. The more Outs a player has, the higher his chances become of winning.

As you can see from the above example you have a lot of outs. you have more cards in Omaha you will also have more outs. However remember that your opponents also have more outs so you need a better hand to win.In other words you should discount your outs especially those to weaker hands like three of a kind. (For more info on outs and odds please read more here.)

By reading the Community Cards, you should be able to determine what your opponent's best possible hand is. If there are three suited cards on the table, at least one opponent likely has a Flush. If you can't beat a Flush, Fold. If the table offers easy Straights, such as 3-4-6-8-9, you better have, or be able to beat, a Straight. Otherwise, Fold.

Notice in the example above, 3-4-6-8-9, there are 5 ways to complete a Straight using only 2 Hole cards and 3 Community Cards: 2-3-4-5-6, 3-4-5-6-7, 4-5-6-7-8, 5-6-7-8-9 and 6-7-8-9-10. Of course this is an improbable display of Community cards, but it shows just how closely a player needs to watch the cards and read his opponents.

In Texas Hold'em, Pocket Aces are the best possible starting hand and usually win the game. However, with so many cards to work with, Straights and Flushes are more commonly winners in Omaha Poker and Omaha Hi-Lo. A 3 of a Kind is actually not a very strong hand. Not to say it won't win, but the odds aren't with it. However, a player should know just by seeing the Community Cards whether a Straight is even possible from his opposition (Remember 2+3), giving him the knowledge to proceed or Fold with a 3 of a Kind, or even a high pair.