Since many people these days are realizing how tough it can be to make money in Texas Hold’em, the mass exodus continues towards the game of Omaha. However, once players get to Omaha a lot of them find that they’d like to try Omaha Hi-Lo as well. But you should never jump right into the game of Hi-Lo unprepared because there are a lot of differences between the two games. Here are some tips to help you make the switch.
Bluffing
One of the biggest adjustments you need to make from Omaha to Omaha Hi-Lo is totally giving up the tendency to bluff on the river. If you bluff on the river in Omaha Hi-Lo, there’s a very good chance you will get called because other players will at least think they have a chance at the low hand. In short, avoid bluffing on the river in Hi-Lo.
Starting Hands
Omaha players often get very excited when they see a hand like A-A-K-K. It gives them the best shot to hit a nut hand and take down the pot. But in Omaha Hi-Lo, you want to get hands that will allow you to get both the high and low hand and scoop the entire pot. This means you’ll want cards that are both high and low like A-A-2-3. If you manage to get a hand like this, you’ll have a chance at getting a high and low nut draw.
Getting Quartered
Another thing to watch out for in Omaha Hi-Lo is getting quartered. That’s because there will be times when two people will tie for the low hand and must split the bottom part of the pot. This becomes a lot worse when a person makes a lot of raises and bets in an attempt to win the low pot. If you’re only going for the low part of the pot, be careful because you could end up spending a lot more money than it’s worth trying to get half of the pot.