Omaha High Low Beginner
Starting Hands
Knowing which starting hands to play is the
key to being a winning Omaha High Low player.
When you take into account the different cards
and suits there are 5,278 possible starting
hands in Omaha Hi Lo. This guide to the best
starting Omaha Hi Lo hands will teach you the
best hands to play and win with. When deciding
on a starting hand to play, you want a hand
where the four cards that you are dealt work
together.
Ideally, you want the four cards to contain
both a high and low draw. There are certain
Omaha High Low hands that have a much better
chance of winning even if the hand has a both a
high and low draw.
For example, lets compare the following two
hands, A-2-3-4 and K-Q-8-8.
The A-2-3-4 has the potential to be both the
best high and low hand if one of the community
cards are a five. You will have the best low
hand possible and a straight that can win the
high hand. If the A-2-3-4 are all suited then
you have a chance for a straight flush which
puts you in even better position to win the high
hand and will still be the best low hand because
straights and flushes are ignored for low hands.
On the other side, the K-Q-8-8 gives you an
excellent high hand draw but gives you no shot
at the low hand draw. You must use two of your
hole cards at 8 or lower for the best low hand.
Since you have a pair you can not win the low
hand. This is why I would not play hands like
K-Q-8-8, K-Q-7-7 as the paired low cards give
you no chance at the low hand.
Let’s take a look at more Omaha High Low
starting hands that put you in good position to
win both the high hand and low hand. These
guidelines on which hands to play are for
players that want to hone their skills in
choosing playable hands, ensuring that their
earnings expectancy is positive.
The value of these hands are influenced by
your position at the table. Players who act last
have a big advantage over players who act first.
Winning Omaha High Low players do not play weak
hands in early position which then leaves them
vulnerable to raises and re-raises.
The best Omaha High Low hands are capable of
capturing both the high and the low ends of the
pot. They also have all four cards working
together with draws to better hands.
I have broken the Omaha High Low starting
hands down into three groups. In this strategy
section I will discuss the best hands for a
beginning Omaha High Low player. In addition to
the discussing the Omaha High Low starting hands
to play I will also talk a little bit about what
position at the table you should be in when
playing these hands. Follow my advice and you
will do well at the Omaha High Low tables.
In the hand descriptions below, double suited
means that one high card is suited to your low
card and the other high card is suited to the
other low card. Suited means that one of your
high cards are suited to one of your low cards.
Beginner Omaha High Low Starting Hands
Play these hands in early, middle or late
position. These are good solid hands - the best
of the best.
A-A-2-3 double suited
A-K-2-3, A-K-2-4, A-K-2-5, A-Q-2-4, A-J-2-3
A-2-3-4 or an Ace with any three wheel cards.
A-A-3-4 or an Ace with any two wheel cards.
A-2-3-X (A-2-3-8, A-2-3-K, A-2-3-Q etc)
Aces are powerful cards in Omaha High Low
when they are teamed up with two suited wheel
cards. This gives you the potential to make Aces
full, two nut flushes and a wheel for a high low
scoop.
As a beginner, I recommend sticking to the
hands above. This will require lots of patience
on your part. This is not as easy as it sounds.
When playing these hands you want to make sure
that it works with the flop when it comes down.
If your hand fit’s the flop you are in very good
position to win the hand. If it does not fit the
flop then you should fold your hand. As you
progress through each round of Omaha High Low
you will have fewer decisions to make. The most
important decision is which starting hand you
will play.
I recommend playing the above hands in low
limit Omaha High Low poker games. When you are
comfortable playing them it is then time to
expand your playable hand selection. Be sure to
read our intermediate strategy when you are
ready to add more hands to your list of playable
Omaha High Low poker hands.
