Omaha High Low Poker Starting Hands

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.