Avoid Middle Cards at Omaha Hi-Lo Poker
Starting with four pocket cards in Omaha Hi-Lo gives thousands of different possible combinations. Selecting which hands of those thousands of hands to play, with a view to being profitable, is a difficult task for which there are no charts available to guide new players along the right path. There are a few tips and guidelines you'll want to follow when choosing your starters, including the need to check that your cards work well together, but probably the best advice specific to the high-low game is to avoid the middle cards, particularly those numbered six through nine.
The main problem with playing middle starting cards in Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha 8 Or Better) is that they rarely make the best poker hands once all the board cards are dealt. With many players drawing to many different possibilities (particularly in low-limit games), big hands - like straights or flushes - are almost necessary to win half or scoop an Omaha pot. Another concern with middle cards is that they usually catch only a small piece of the flop, enticing new players to continue on with poor draws, or into unfavorable circumstances, costing many bets each session.
Players familiar with the usual play of pockets pairs in Texas Holdem will often play middle pairs in Omaha 8/B the same way they do in Holdem, by limping in before the flop regardless of their position, hoping to hit a set. The main problem with this strategy in 8/B is that middle sets will not win the pot (or even half the pot!) as often as they would in a game like Holdem. Not only that, but when middle cards do win, it is often because the other players have simply folded their weak hands. Most Omaha players suspect big hands from their opponents and they will typically fold their two-pair hands when faced with a serious raise. And, remember, the prospect of winning only small pots or losing a big one because you've overplayed your hand is a concept that must always be avoided in poker online.
An example of this poor Omaha Hi-Low middle pair situation would be a starting hand of 7s7c, 8s,8h . Even if you get a good flop and you hit your set - for example 2h, 7h, Qd - there will often still be low draws possible, flush draws possible (hearts), and very few second-best hands likely to pay you off even if your hand does remain the winner. This is aside from the fact that most of the time, this hand will miss the flop, or else be forced to fold immediately when faced by a big board such as Jd, Kd, Ac or a small connected board like 2d, 3d, 5s.
As the name of the game implies, high cards will win more high hands and low cards will naturally win more low-halves of the pot. So, what do those middle cards get; unprofitable scenarios that rely more on luck than common sense poker strategy. Remember that putting yourself in the best spot to win a hand, or avoid disaster, starts with your very first decision of whether or not to play those hole cards.
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