Omaha Holdem High - Low Split Strategy
The fundamental principles and strategies for high-low Omaha holdem poker described here are those usually agreed upon and recommended by the experts for bet limit games.
General Strategy:
In Omaha High-Low the winner of the high hand must divide the pot with whoever wins the finest low hand qualifier. At all times, a high hand winner emerges but not in the case of low hand. To qualify for the low, a player's combination must not be higher than "8". A player must play any two of his hole cards for high as well as any two cards are used for low.
Aces are always use for high and low. Flushes and straight are allowed in low hand, thus a player who holds a 5 4 3 2 A will have a supreme low hand furthermore a 5 high straight can be played for high. If a player holds this combination, chances are he will win both high and low hand. This player can also create a much better hand with this combination.
Always keep in mind that the most important thing in high low split Omaha is to win either hands or "scooping" the pot. Logically, scooping the central pot will boost your piles of chips. Receiving a partial win will only adds a little amount to your funds.
Professional Omaha Hi Lo players only play starting hands, like those recommended here, that have a good chance of winning both ways. Hence following the flop or perhaps the turn, if you think your hand can't win the high hand or don't have a fair chance of winning the low hand, then probably you may fold up.
Some high-low split terms:
WHEEL - the combination (5 4 3 2 A) is considered the best hand. It can be played either as the low hand, or a straight for high.
SUITED PLAYER HAND (S) - a couple of the players' 4 cards have identical suit.
DOUBLE SUITED PLAYER HAND (DS) - two cards of a player contain one suit and the other two has another suit.
SET -THREE OF A KIND- the player only holds the two cards and the other card is in the board. Two cards in the board plus one card in the player's possession constitute a "trips".
NUT HAND - is any matchless high or low hand. This is called a "lock".
FLOP, TURN and RIVER - represents the shared cards in order of circulation.
SCOOP - Winning both high and low hands of the central pot or getting the entire pot if no qualifying low hand is available.
FAST PLAY -a player's action like Bet, raise and re-raise to get his opponents eliminated.
SLOW PLAY - a player's action like check or call with the intention of increasing the pot.
CHECK-FOLD - Check if the need arises or fold if you will call a bet place in front of you.