Omaha Eights-or-Better Hi-Lo Split is in many respects a game of aces. It isn’t terrible advice to throw away any hand without an ace or two in it – they can make the nut straight, the nut flush, top pair and the nut low. They are probably Omaha-8’s greatest weapon.

But in some situations it is advisable to play a hand consisting of only high cards (that is 9 or above). Sometimes it can be profitable to pretend you’re playing Omaha Hi. When? Position helps. If I hold KQJJ in late position after some limpers I will gladly call. One third of all flops will contain two or more high cards. If the turn then comes another high card (not a terribly unlikely outcome) then there is no low hand possible and your high cards can very likely scoop. Added to this, in a multi-way pot many of your opponents will be playing low hands, and those will interfere with each other and lessen the likelihood of a low draw. Let’s look at an example:

You’re playing limit Omaha Hi/Lo Split, $5-$10. An early position player raises the blind to $10 and three people call. You look down on the button at 9TTJ double-suited. You’re getting 4.5-1 on your money and will are 2-1 to have a majority-high flop. You call the $10 and both blinds fold. With a $55 pot the flop is J-5-Q rainbow. You’ve flopped a pair and an open-ended straight draw, and when it is checked to you you bet it and get two callers, both with A-2-4-x. A $75 pot and the turn is a rainbowed 8. You’ve got the nuts and they’re still chasing their low. But there are very few low cards in the deck now after the sensible low chasers folded the flop, and when the turn comes >8 as it usually will your high will scoop the whole pot. Added to this, many players who had a hand like A-A-2-5 might call a river bet, thinking you too were chasing a low and that their pair of aces might be good.

This is a highly contrived example but it just goes to show how playing by the book might not always be proper.

Categories: Poker Strategy