Omaha HiLo Poker Strategy: The Basics

Omaha HiLo is a more complicated version of poker, similar to Texas Hold 'Em in some ways, but in other ways very different. That being said, it is a very fun game, and perhaps more importantly it is the game that tends to most reward skill, in addition to punishing bad play more severely.

The general flow of Omaha HiLo is the same as Texas Hold 'Em poker. It is still played with a standard 52 card deck of playing cards. The button is still in use with a big blind and a small blind. You still get to see the flop, turn and river with a round of betting on each. That's where the similarities end, however.

In Omaha HiLo, each player is dealt four hole cards instead of the normal two. Your hole cards interact with the community cards in the same was as Hold 'Em, the only difference is that in making your hand you must use exactly two cards in your hand and three on the board. Hence to have a flush you must have two of that suit in your hand, as well as three on the board. Having four clubs on the board with the ace of clubs in your hand is useless in Omaha unless you have another club to go with it.

In addition to getting 4 cards and the two in the hand, three on the board rule, there is also the possibility for a low. A low would be the lowest possible non-paired hand given the board (straights and flushes don't count against a low). In Omaha HiLo, lows need to be what they call 'eight or better'. This means that a low can only go as high as 8, or it isn't a qualifying low. In other words, there needs to be at least 3 non-paired cards on the board 8 or lower, or there will not be a low that hand. When there is a low, half of the pot is given to the best low hand, while the other half is given to the best high hand. The best possible low hand is the wheel, A-2-3-4-5. This is perhaps the single most powerful hand in Omaha HiLo.

Keep in mind that you needn't use the same two cards for your high as you do for your low. It is often times where you end up with both a good low and a strong high hand. When you win both the high and low ends of a hand, this is known as 'scooping' the pot. When someone only wins 1/4 of the pot due to someone else having the same low or same high (often the case with the nut low), they are said to have gotten 'quartered'.

In summary, the fundamental differences between Texas Hold 'Em and Omaha HiLo Poker are as follows:

--- You receive 4 hole cards instead of 2
--- You must play two cards in your hand, three on the board
--- If there is a qualifying 8-or-better low, the best low wins half the pot

That's all for today, I've covered the basic rules and premises of Omaha HiLo. If you have any questions feel free to comment below. Check back often for in depth Omaha HiLo poker strategy and tips!