Omaha hi/lo raising high only hands

Is it right strategy to raise high only hands in omaha hi lo?
My thinking is that these hands have maximum scoop potential so could be profitably raised with on most occasions.

simple answer well it depends, in essence in a split game like hi/lo your starting hands should work for both high and lo hands, for example a234 double suited is nice as you have many low possibilities and flushes and straights for the high end of the spectrum. Obv the board has to be cooperative for a low hand to exist so a high hand is always the only gaurentee.

If its only two players left in the pot, chances are if you only have the high it will probably be a split but when talking tournament and you have the nut high just keep potting it anyhow because you will know you are at least getting back what you put (granted you would want to know you have the NUT HIGH and it isn't going to change). If you are by chance talking cash game, then IMO you don't want to be building the pot if only two players because the only person going to profit most of the time is the house due to rake on a split pot leaving you with less money then you started.

Just my thoughts, hate running into split pots when was only two people in the hand and loosing money due to the rake collected from the pot (sometimes knowing before showdown its a split but having to call raises to get to showdown).

Just my thoughts, I don't play the game really just the freerolls on stars but know the concept and do ok with them. Would rather poke my eyes out then to play alot of split games though lol.

You have a big chance to win something...but you have a big chance to lose too...I think you have too se the hand as an omaha hand and not two or many hold'em hands...Everybody has 4 cards , not only you , you have to remember that!

stefffan1 said:

You have a big chance to win something...but you have a big chance to lose too...I think you have too se the hand as an omaha hand and not two or many hold'em hands...Everybody has 4 cards , not only you , you have to remember that!

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That would be omaha in general, hi/lo is another beast all in itself because not only do you need your four cards to work together but you need them to work towards both a hi hand and low hand (low hand being basically a 5 card hand below 8 high (A being low or high, so A2345 is the nut low and would be a straight so decent chance could snag the high as well).

BluffMeAllIn said:

If its only two players left in the pot, chances are if you only have the high it will probably be a split but when talking tournament and you have the nut high just keep potting it anyhow because you will know you are at least getting back what you put (granted you would want to know you have the NUT HIGH and it isn't going to change).

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I completely agree with you on this strategy.
I also agree that you need hands which work well together and could give you both low and high.
But with 5-6 players isnt it better to have high only cards because people are usually playing with low cards and as most of the deck is used chances of low cards on flop comes down. So it could be profitable situation for you by raising preflop.
Let me know if i m right in my thinking.

DevilMe03 said:

But with 5-6 players isnt it better to have high only cards because people are usually playing with low cards and as most of the deck is used chances of low cards on flop comes down. So it could be profitable situation for you by raising preflop.
Let me know if i m right in my thinking.

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I don't think this (in bold) is correct
The (statistical) proportion of cards ranked 8 or lower to those ranked higher (and therefore the chances of three on the board) is always the same, regardless of how many cards are left.
Unless you are referring to the fact that all the players in the pot must all be holding low cards and thereby skewing the odds. I think if there is such an effect here it is very small, and surely you not having a low hand would counteract it to some degree anyway.

I see a lot of players favor high - only starting hands in split games. Some people say they have been burned with AA23 type hands too many times, some take the contrary approach that "everybody else" is playing low staring hands.

If I get a good high starting hand in position I'll play it, but I generally [80%] wouldn't raise it pre-flop. A "low" hand can develop into nut high really quick.

Thank you all for clearing my doubts. I understand now that high only hands are playable hands but not strong enough to raise or call raise with.

High only hands can be extremely playable. Although the name of the game is Omaha hi/lo. There isn't always a low hand possible. A final board with only two unique cards below 9 happens fairly often. There are also times where there may be a low possible, but no actual low hand.

eg A28T vs AKJJ on a board of A 2 3 K Q