What do you have in these Omaha Hi/Lo hands?
Omaha Hi/Lo is a "sister" game of Texas Hold'em. It creates more action than Hold'em for a couple of reasons. First, the pot is split between the best high and best low hands. Second, once the flop comes down, because of four hole cards in each player's hand, nearly everybody has something they can draw to.
Still and all, Omaha Hi/Lo languishes in popularity behind Texas Hold'em. I'm sure the exponentially greater number of possibilities in an Omaha hand confuses many would-be Omaha players out of playing. So today, I'm going to show you a few Omaha hands and flops, then ask you what you've got. Ready, go.
Your hand
A d /K d /Q s /J' (insert suit symbols)
The flop
3 d -10 d -J s (insert suit symbols)
Typically, poker is a game of "made hands." Omaha instead, is a game of "draws." There are so many cards in this game that the best made hand on the flop is usually an underdog to the hand with the most draws. So in Omaha, you need to look at the flop and quickly assess how many different good hands you can make with the next two cards.
In the example above, you have only a pair of Jacks on the flop. By itself, that's nothing. But you also have an Ace high diamond 4-flush, which will get completed one third of the time. On top of that, you have a "wraparound" straight draw, which is 50 percent to fill. That is, if any 9, Queen, King or Ace comes on either of the last two cards, you'll have the "nut" (highest possible) straight. And 2 percent of the time, your pair of Jacks will even turn into a full house. All in all, you'll make either a straight, a flush or a full house two times out of three!
You've got a big hand, and are actually the favorite over somebody who has a pair of 10s in the hole and flopped three 10s! Plus, since this flop has two high cards, 70 percent of the time, there will be no 8 low possible, and you'll be going for the whole pot. It's a raising hand. Now how about this next situation?
Your hand
Ac/2d/3h/9s (insert suit symbols)
The flop
4d-5s-Qh (insert suit symbols)
This is a more typical scenario in that two low cards came on the flop. Since you've got the Ace/2/3, any low card from an Ace through 8 will give you the "nut" (best) low. It'll end up getting there 70 percent of the time. Besides that, if an Ace, 2 or 3 specifically comes, you'll have a "wheel" (5 high straight), and plenty of times that'll win both ends. Now, here's one more hand to look at.
Your Hand
2h/3s/Qd/Kc (insert suit symbols)
The Flop
5h-7s-8d (insert suit symbols)
Three low cards came on this flop, making the lows already good. You've got your 2/3 to go with the 5-7-8. That's the third best possible low, and you know what? It's probably no good!
So then, what have you got working for high? Nothing! There's a fair chance somebody's already made a straight with a 4/6 and somebody else is highly likely to have an Ace/2 or Ace/3.
If you ever play a 2/3 in this game (not recommended), you need an Ace to flop in order to go any further in the hand. Hanging in there with the third best low is for losers.
In fact, your starting hand (2/3/Q/K) is one not worth paying any money to see the flop with. The general rule is; all four of your cards should be very low or very high -- but usually low.