Omaha H/L for New Players (Scoop!)

This is the most complex of all poker games! I have struggled trying To teach it to several players - part of the problem is that it looks simple - looks like Hold'em, but you get 4 cards and the low hand splits - how hard can it be?? Then after losing a big chunk of cash or play chips give up.

But nearly every one tries - why?? Because they start looking at table
Stats and see the average pot size in Omaha h/l being 2 or 3 times larger than a Hold'em Table with the same stakes. The one thing people here and remember is "You do not need as much of a stake to play Omaha H/L" - True, but only if you know the survival skills required and this is a Survival only - there are book on the subject, but if you follow this you can play,learn and make money - not lose it.

First of all think of the game as SCOOP - in you mind do not call it
Omaha call it "Scoop".
To "Scoop" a pot you need to either win both the high and low hand or
Win the high when there is now low possibility. Keep that concept in mind going forward.

1. You Need to use 2 (two) cards from you hand for the high and low - this is not Hold'em, there is NO chance to get a Flush without two cards of that suit in your hand..This is hard for new players to grasp – 2 and only 2 cards.

2. For there to be a low hand – there has got to be 3 different cards 8 and below for there to be a low hand. K 2 2 3 3 on the board and there is No low hand.

3. Starting Hands:
Low with high
A234, The Ace should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel Str.
AA23, One Ace should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel Str, or Aces full or Trips
AK23 Ace and/or K should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel STR or Nut STR
AK24 Ace and/or K should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel STR or Nut STR
AQ 2-5 Ace should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel STR or Nut STR
AJ 2-5 Ace should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel STR or Nut STR
A10 2-5 Ace should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel STR or Nut STR
A23X - The Ace should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel Str.
A 2-3 with any pair - The Ace should be suited with another card for a nut Flush Draw and Wheel Str and a Trips or FH possibility
23 4-8 is playable but if no A is on board – be careful – probably playing for ½ the pot!!

High Hand Starters – 4 cards A-10 with at least 1 nut flush draw.

4. If after the flop, you are NOT 4 to a NUT high and/or Low fold to any betting.

5. Bluffing almost never works in Omaha – save your chips.

6. Study the board, odds or if there is a Flush Possibility someone has it, if the board pairs – someone probably has a full house – everyone has 9 cards to work with – if it is possible for someone to have the nuts – it probably is in some ones hand.

7. The ignorant end of a strait is the fools end in “Scoop” muck it fast!!

After studying the starting hands and post flop play – you will be in few hands, and drop out of most you start at the flop, but if you follow the rules, you will win monster pots and only INVEST chips in pots worth being in!!

Thanks to TechMan Poker for contributing this article!

Poker Theory - Poker site for the improvement of poker skills. Site reviews, articles, Blogs, Gambling and Sports Betting - Special Member Only Freerolls. A great site for both new and experienced poker players. Good LuckTechMan