Brand New to Omaha Hi/Lo

I am completing Phil Gordon's "6 Tips for Serious Beginners" challenge over at Full Tilt, and one of the challenges is to play 2 FL Omaha H/L micro stakes games.

I understand the concepts of Omaha (4 hole cards instead of two, pot split between hi and lo winners), but I don't want to commit my dwindling bankroll to a game that I have know idea how to manipulate/dominate. Right now, if I were to complete that challenge, I'd say I'd lose between 5 and 15 bucks. Anyone have any pointers on strategy so I can at least break even?

Thanks, david

Very basic tip here David but maybe the most important one.

You only want to be playing hands that can scoop the entire pot, I.E hands like AA23 double suited, the best possible starting hand in H/L. Hands that are stronger in normal omaha JJKK etc, are not so good in H/L because they can only win the top end of the pot, and often fighting for half pot can cause you to lose it all, or only get a quarter back.

Very basic I know but I'm no expert, hope this helps.

i dont know what kind of challenges your trying to finish but if you have rakeback then just fold your way to profit. Find a good stating hand chart and read this..

http://www.playwinningpoker.com/omaha/pot-limit/plo8/

Play for the full scoop. Hands like Ad2dAcKc.

I hate O8 but some people really like it, and given the low variance of Fixed limit O8 its definitely a game you should try. It's well worth the $5-$15 to decide if the game's for you or not. I obviously can't teach you strategy here but basically any A2 hand is playable, you also want to play all high hands - I'd say any 4 cards 10 or over are pretty much playable bar trips. Not a fan of O8 but it's a game you can consistently win at if you really know what you're doing.

My best tip would be don't overvalue AAxx

patience

Don't get sucked into chasing for half the pot. Low hands do that to people. And deal a few sample hands with a real deck of cards this way you get used to reading your hands, you don't want to think you've got the nut low and in reality you've been counterfeited and you're holding an 8 low.

Super System 2 has a moderately good section on it.

Jeff Hwang is pretty good PLO author, get his first book, it has hi lo in there.

U could play ur normal cash sessions and maybe have an Omaha 8 playchip table running on the side. I would advise that with caution, as long as it doesn’t distract or impair ur normal win rate.

Id suggest when u have some down time from the cash game sessions just play at the playchip tables to get more accustomed to the game and work on basic strategy. There are some videos in the academy on basic Omaha 8 strategy, and I think omaha8 is addressed in some of the HORSE videos as well.

I could recommend ray zee’s 2+2 hi/lo book to u, but no. the videos at full tilt are reliable and cover a lot of basic strategy. And also because it costs $15+ and after studying if for over 5yrs I still have certain questions. lollol. nevermind.

i agree with c9, baldwin's section in ss2 is solid but some of the stuff in ss2 u can get just by watching some of the vids in the adademy.



really quick tips on omaha8,

When I was starting out playing Omaha 8, I would play small and middle pairs trying to hit sets. This is the thinking of a holdem player and isn’t the best way to win at omaha8. I cant tell u the pots and money lost on bottom set in Omaha 8 games.

If u play a hand with a small to medium pair in that omaha8 hand and hit a set on the board, be aware that bottom and middle sets get beat by the higher set in omaha 8 a lot of the time. So be careful.


Id also say be careful of playing A2 with mediocre cards in ur hand, especially against few players. with a few players, a lot of the times ur opponent will have the same A2 hand but better side cards. So ull split the lo pot and lose the hi pot. So be careful playing even A2 in Omaha 8. with a lot of callers -ur gonna have to have many ppl in that pot to get something if u just split the low pot.

oooh and my favorite 1 -especially since some1 on this forum just reillustrated how much holdem players love premium pairs. - be careful of playing aa, or kk in omaha 8, especially with trash side cards. if the board doesnt help u with 2 pair or better ur probably in big trouble. lololol.

it’s a form of omaha, a pair isnt big in this game. i cant tell u how much i see ppl go crazy preflop with a premium holdem pair only to lose with it but were expecting to win.

I think completing the challenge is worth it especially if u can get em for the low price that ur thinking about.

Hope I helped and gl.

Since this is LO8 you should be playing for the scoop with the nuts in at least one direction all the time.

1. A2xx is a strong hand and is profitable when played in any position. Don't raise A2 from upfront because you want people in the pot with you when you have this hand. At the same time don't become predictable with where you do raise A2.
2. A3 is ok in late position but the A almost has to be suited
3. You can play 40 point hands which is all cards Ten or higher
4. Avoid hands with 9s
5. AAxx is an overrated hand. If you play AA and have no chance at the low you could lose lots of pots. Play AA when your Ace is suited, when you have a strong low like a 2 or 3 to go with it and when you have AA plus any two ten point cards
6. Since the A can be used for hi and low there is usually little reason to play a hand that doesn't have an A in it. If you do it will most likely be in the BB when no one has raised in front of you.
7. If the board is showing a flush you can bet there is a flush out there. If it shows a straight then the straight is almost 100%. If you are not drawing to a better hand the hand is over for you. If the board is paired your Nut Flush might be crushed.
8. Beware of the counterfeit. You have A2xx and an A or 2 hits the board.

Keep in mind when playing 9 and 10 player tables that 36 of the deck is used for the deal. It is possible for more than one player to have A2xx. This is very dangerous because even though you may have the best low hand you may be getting 1/4 of the pot (half the low) if someone else also has A2.

There are lots of other things to keep in mind but you can break even, and most of the time win, just by following these tips.

Kmixer makes alot of very good points. Not really much I can add.

thanks for the responses

I read the articles that were linked, and also found some useful information in the strategy section of CardsChat. I look forward to trying the game.