Omaha Hi-Lo · example hand · 9 players · BlindsTwo small bets that two players must put in before the cards are dealt, so there is always something to win. The small blind is 1 chip and the big blind is 2 chips. of 1 and 2 chips · everyone starts with 200 chips
Omaha Omaha Hi-Lo (hi-lo)Omaha where the pot is split in two: half for the best high hand, half for the best low hand. If nobody has a low hand, the best high hand wins the whole pot. splits the pot between the best high hand and the best low hand. You start with an ace and a two. By the fourth card you have the best low and a straight too.
A-Q-3-2: an ace and a two (the best start for the low half). The lesson: In Omaha Hi-Lo the big wins come from taking both halves. Hands that can make a low and a high hand together are the ones worth playing.
Before the flop
You have A-Q-3-2: an ace and a two (the best start for the low half). In Omaha Hi-Lo half the pot goes to the best high hand and half to the best low hand: five different cards, all 8 or lower. Kai, a wild player, raises. Calling to see the flop is reasonable.
- Kai🔥 Wildposts the small blind (1)
- Bea📞 Calls a lotposts the big blind (2)
- Jun🎯 Solidfolds
- Walt🐢 Relaxedfolds
- Youcall 2
- Rosa🐢 Relaxedfolds
- Dev📞 Calls a lotfolds
- Marguerite🪨 Very carefulfolds
- Otis🐢 Relaxedcalls 2
- Kai🔥 Wildraises to 10
- Bea📞 Calls a lotfolds
- Youcall 8
- Otis🐢 Relaxedfolds
You call 2Probably
Coach: Call 2. A-Q-3-2: an ace and a two (the best start for the low half). That is about the best 15% of Omaha starting hands. Not strong enough to raise in a middle seat, but calling to see the flop is reasonable. In Omaha, hands whose four cards work together play best. (A rule of thumb for Omaha starting hands.)
You call 8Close call
Coach: Close call, slightly better to call 8. A-Q-3-2: an ace and a two (the best start for the low half). That is about the best 15% of Omaha starting hands. Someone raised to 10; about the best 16% of hands keep going, so calling is reasonable. (A rule of thumb for Omaha starting hands.)
The flop (3 shared cards)pot: 24 chips
The flop, 4♣ A♦ 2♥, gives you two pair, aces and twos. Three low cards are showing, so someone can make a low, but you don’t have one yet: the shared ace and two match yours, so you can’t make five different low cards. You still have many ways to improve, so raise.
What beats you?
- You have two pair, aces and twos.
- Best possible hand right now: five-high straight (ace to five).
- 18,576 of the 148,995 four-card hands another player could hold beat you: straight (9,610 ways), three of a kind (4,364 ways), two pair (4,602 ways).
- Low half: you have no low yet; the Best possible low (nut low)The best low hand anyone could make with the shared cards showing now. is 5-4-3-2-A.
- 8 cards would help you (your outs): a 18% chance on the next card.
- Kai🔥 Wildbets 19
- Youraise to 50
- Kai🔥 Wildcalls 31
You raise to 50Close call
Coach: Close call, slightly better to raise to 50 (half the pot). Your expected share of the pot is about 64% (a rough estimate), and worse hands will call.
The turn (4th card)pot: 124 chips
The 5♣ gives you a five-high straight (ace to five), and now you also have the best possible low. You are in line for both halves, so bet the whole pot.
What beats you?
- You have five-high straight (ace to five).
- Best possible hand right now: six-high straight.
- 9,136 of the 135,751 four-card hands another player could hold beat you: straight (9,136 ways).
- Low half: you have 5-4-3-2-A, the best possible low.
- 3 cards would help you (your outs): a 7% chance on the next card.
- Kai🔥 Wildchecks
- Youbet 124
- Kai🔥 Wildcalls 124
You bet 124Probably
Coach: Bet 124 (the whole pot, the most you can bet). Your expected share of the pot is about 84% (a rough estimate), and worse hands will call.
The river (5th card)pot: 372 chips
Kai bets his last few chips. Calling costs very little compared with the pot.
What beats you?
- You have five-high straight (ace to five).
- Best possible hand right now: four fives.
- 22,228 of the 123,410 four-card hands another player could hold beat you: four of a kind (820 ways), full house (12,974 ways), straight (8,434 ways).
- Low half: you have 5-4-3-2-A, the best possible low.
- Kai🔥 Wildbets 16 (all-in)
- Youcall 16 (all-in)
You call 16 (all-in)Clear
Coach: Call 16. You need at least 4% of the pot, and your expected share of the pot is about 68% (a rough estimate).
Result
The pot (404): You win the whole pot: the best high hand (five-high straight (ace to five)) and the best low (5-4-3-2-A). You finish 204 chips up.
- YouFive-high straight (ace to five); low 5-4-3-2-A
- KaiTwo pair, Aces and Fives; low 8-5-4-2-A
You win both halves: the high half with a five-high straight (ace to five) and the low half with 5-4-3-2-A. Kai had two pair, aces and fives. Winning both halves is called a Win the whole pot (scoop)In Hi-Lo, winning both halves: the best high hand and the best low hand (or the best high hand when nobody has a low)..
The coach’s numbers are estimates against these computer players, worked out by dealing the rest of the hand thousands of times. The “what beats you” counts are exact.
More example hands
- Two pair against a player who calls everything: bet, bet, betThe first three shared cards give you two pair, against a player who never folds. Make him pay at every step.
- Trips on a paired board: bet, then call the river raiseYou get a free look at the first three cards and make three of a kind. On the last card, a player who calls a lot suddenly raises. Call or fold?
- Chasing the nut flush draw: when the price is rightYou raise with Ace-King of the same suit and miss the first three cards. Then the fourth card gives you four spades, one away from the best possible flush. Is it worth calling?
- A small pair when a player who never bets suddenly bets: believe itEveryone checks after the first three cards. Then a player who almost never bets suddenly bets on the fourth card (the turn). You have the smallest possible pair.
- Omaha: the right two cards make a straightPot-Limit Omaha. You start with a high pair plus an ace and a three. The pair looks best, but on the fourth card a different two of your cards make a straight.
- Limit: call when the pot paysLimit Hold’em. You have four hearts after the flop and nothing else. Two players keep betting and calling. With every bet a set size, the pot pays you to chase your flush until the last card.