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Omaha Hi Lo is a fun and potentially profitable poker
variation.
It offers a nice change of pace for Texas holdem players and
when you learn the best way to play can be more profitable.
This page includes sections on how to play and strategy. If
youre sure you already know how to play you can skip to the
strategy section, but if you have any questions at all about the
exact rules itll only take a couple minutes to read through the
how to play section.
Did you know you have to use exactly two of your hole cards
and exactly three of the board cards to form a hand? In Texas
holdem you can use any number of hole cards and up to and
including five community cards.
If you didnt know the difference read the rules section
before moving on. How to Play Omaha Hi Lo Rules Dealer Position Blinds
One player is designated as the dealer position, usually
shown with a white button with the word dealer on it. The player
to the immediate left of the dealer position is the small blind
and the player to the immediate left of the small blind is the
big blind.
The dealer button is passed one player to the left after each
hand is completed.
The big blind places a forced wager set by the table limits
and the small blind places a bet usually half the size of the
big blind. In limit games the small blind is half the big blind,
but in pot limit and no limit games it can be different.
In a 10 / 20 limit game, the big blind is 10 and the small
blind is 5. Dealing a Hand
Starting with the player in the small blind, each player
receives four cards face down, dealt one at a time to the left
around the table. Pre-Flop Betting
After each player receives four hole cards the player to the
left of the big blind may choose from one of the following
options.
Fold (discard their cards and sit out the rest of the
hand)
Call (the amount of the big blind)
Raise
Play moves to the next player to the left who either folds,
calls the largest previous wager, or raises. After each player
has the opportunity to act the play moves on to the left. When
play reaches the small blind she either calls the remaining part
of the largest bet above her blind amount, folds or raises. Then
the big blind can check if the hand hasnt been raised, fold if
the hand has been raised, call a raise, or raise.
Play continues to the left until every player has folded or
called the highest wager. The Flop
The next step is the three card flop. The flop is the
beginning of the community card area.
Community cards are used by all the players remaining in the
hand to form a five card high hand and a five card low hand when
possible.
After the three cards on the flop are turned face up the
first player to the left of the dealer button remaining in the
hand is the first to act. This player has the following two
options.
Check (passing the option to bet onto the next player)
Bet
Play continues to the left with each remaining player having
the option to check if a bet hasnt been made, or to call a bet,
fold, or raise.
Play continues to the left until each player remaining in the
hand has called the highest bet amount. The Turn
The fourth community card, called the turn, is then dealt and
another betting round structured the same way as the one after
the flop is conducted.
In a limit game all bets are a set amount. Using the same 10
/ 20 example from above, all bets before and on the flop would
be 10. All bets on the turn and river are 20. The River
After betting is completed on the turn the fifth and final
community card, called the river, is dealt face up. A final
betting round, identical to the one following the turn, is
conducted. After this round of betting the remaining players
show their cards and the winner or winners are paid from the
pot. Making a Hand
Each player must use exactly two cards from her hand and
three of the community cards to form their best five card high
hand and best five card low hand if a low is possible. You dont
have to use the same two cards to form a high and low hand.
Here are a couple of examples.
Your Hand: .
Community Cards:
Youd use your
and
with the
and
to form a low and your
and
with the
and
for a high hand.
Your Hand:
Community Cards:
On this occasion youd use your
and
with the
and
for both your high and low hand.
The only time a low hand is possible is when at least three
unpaired cards eight and below are on the board. Warning
The biggest mistake Omaha Hi Lo players make is
forgetting they have to use exactly two hole cards and three
board cards to form a hand.
If no low hand is possible the entire pot is awarded to the
player with the best high hand. If two or more players tie for
the best high hand they split the pot.
When a low hand qualifies, the pot is split between the best
high hand and the best low hand. If more than one person ties
for the best high or best low hand the half of the pot that is
tied is split between the players who tied. How to Read the Board
Most players dont struggle much when it comes to determining
their best high hand, but figuring out the best low hand can be
tricky until you get used to how to read the board.
The easiest way to read low hands and figure out which hand
is lowest is to take each players five lowest unpaired cards and
read them backwards like a number.
Heres an example.
A 2 3 4 5 = 54,321
A 2 3 4 6 = 64,321
A 4 5 6 7 = 76,541
A 2 3 7 8 = 87,321
Once you get used to reading low hands its pretty easy, but
dont hesitate to ask the dealer to wait at the end of a hand
until you clearly see the value of each hand. Variations
The two most popular variations of Omaha Hi Lo are limit and
pot limit. It can be played for no limit stakes, but most online
poker rooms only offer pot limit and limit.
Even the few that have no limit capabilities rarely have
players at the tables.
If player interest is high enough most land based poker rooms
will spread a no limit Omaha Hi Lo game, but youre more likely
to find a pot limit game.
Though most dealers dont have any problems with pot limit
games, its more difficult than no limit games and it can be
slower. Poker rooms dont like anything that slows down the
games because the fewer hands per hour they run the lower the
rake they make from each table. Why Omaha Hi Lo Can Be More Profitable
Most poker players started playing Texas holdem. In holdem,
you receive a two card starting hand so at the beginning of the
first round of betting you dont know where any of the other 50
cards are located.
As players make bets, calls, and raises you can get an idea
of a range of starting hands they may hold. When the flop is
dealt you know the value of the two cards in your hand and the
three cards on the flop, for a total of 5 known cards and 47
unknown cards.
You know one more card value on the turn and another on the
river. After the river card is dealt you know the value of 7
cards and you dont know the value of 45 cards.
In Omaha Hi Lo you know the value of two more cards on each
round of betting. While this may not seem like much, its
actually a considerable advantage.
Heres a chart comparing the percentage of known cards at
each level of a hand in Texas holdem and Omaha. Texas Holdem Omaha Hi Lo Before the flop 3.8 7.7 After the flop 9.6 13.5 After the turn 11.5 15.4 After the river 13.5 15.4
Notice that in Omaha you have twice as much information
before the flop as you do in Texas holdem and after the river
you know almost 5 more. These higher percentages make Omaha Hi
Lo a more predictable and mathematical straight forward game.
Smart players use this extra information to make better
decisions and make more money than average players.
If youre asking why this makes a difference, because
everyone has the same amount of information, you need to
consider this a different way.
Everyone has access to the same amount of information, but
most players dont know what to do with the information.
Because you have more information by knowing a higher
percentage of card values than in holdem, you can determine the
mathematically correct play more often playing Omaha Hi Lo. Omaha Hi Lo Strategy
The same basic strategies used in most forms of poker are the
ones you should use while playing Omaha Hi Lo.
The Omaha Hi Lo specific strategies that you need to combine
with common poker tactics are covered in the sections below. Scooping
The most important thing to remember when deciding what to do
in Omaha Hi Lo is that you need to put yourself into position to
scoop pots. While you can make a little money winning half the
pot, the real money is in scooping and winning three quarters of
the pot.
You have two ways to scoop pots. You can win both the high
and low part of a split pot or have the best high hand in a pot
that doesnt have a low possibility.
Every decision you make needs to be made with an eye on
scooping possibilities.
Of course most hands dont play out in a way where you have a
choice, but if you had to pick having a best high hand or a best
low hand you want the best high hand. High hands are rarely
split while low hands are split often.
To give yourself the best chance to scoop a pot you need to
play high only hands and two way hands.
A high only hand has high pairs, face cards, large suited
cards, and other combinations that give you a strong chance to
have the nut high hand on a high only board.
Two way hands almost always have an ace in combination with
one or two low cards and one or two high cards. If the ace is
suited to one of the other cards it makes the hand stronger.
Examples of high only hands include:
Examples of two way hands include: Getting Quartered or Worse
Most Omaha Hi Lo players enter any pot where they hold an ace
and a two, so low hands that dont have an ace and two on the
board are often split between two or more players. In this case
the player with the best high hand gets half the pot and the two
players with the tied low hand each receive a quarter of the
pot.
Sometimes a player will tie for low and have the best high
hand, receiving three quarters of the pot.
You want to avoid only winning a quarter of the pot, called
being quartered, as often as possible. Unless a great deal of
money is in the pot from early in the hand from players who
dont win part of the pot, its difficult to come out ahead in a
hand where youve been quartered.
If three players tie for the best low hand its even worse.
This is the main reason when you consider starting hands its
important to have some chance at a high hand when you have a
strong low starting hand. You need to win the high half of the
pot in combination with the low half, or part of the low half,
in order to turn a consistent profit in the long run. The Nuts and Second Best Hands
Texas holdem players often see top pair top kicker hands hold
up and usually win with a flush, even if its only jack or ten
high or when the board pairs.
In Omaha Hi Lo you rarely win with hands like these.
While the nuts arent always required to win a hand, the
average value of winning hands is higher than in Texas holdem.
Anything below a set is unlikely to win a high hand.
Straights and flushes are closer to the average high hands and
if a full house is possible try not to bank on winning the
high half unless being the one with the full house.
A full house is only possible when the board pairs because
you have to use two hole cards to form a hand.
The rule of thumb is if youre drawing you need to be drawing
to either the nuts or a strong enough hand that youre a huge
favorite to win when you hit.
When the board is paired the nuts is four of a kind, but the
top possible full house is good enough to draw to if the pot is
offering the correct odds.
The next rule of thumb is never draw to a low that isnt the
nut low. You end up getting quartered with low hands too often
to take the chance to draw to a second or third best low hand.
If you have a two way hand it can be profitable to draw to a
second or third best low, but only if the high half of your hand
is strong.
Drawing to a second best low and a second best high can be
marginally profitable in some games, but it can cost you a great
deal of money at times. Heres an example of a recent hand we played.
After the flop we had a set of kings and a draw to the second
best low with two other players in the pot. It was a limit Omaha
Hi Lo game and we bet and raised a few times before the turn.
The turn added a draw to a straight and bets continued being
made. The turn completed the low, so we had the second best low
and the second best high hand. The betting was capped on the
river and we ended up losing both sides of the pot.
We got stuck in the hand because by the time the river card
was dealt the pot held enough that in the long run we had to
stay in the hand. The only thing we could have done differently
was minimize our exposure early in the hand, but at the time we
had the best high and a draw to the second best low.
In other words, we lost a big pot but will play the hand the
same way in the future.
If the board had paired on the river instead of completing
the low wed have scooped a big pot. The board will pair enough
times for the play to be profitable. Well also win either the
low or high enough times for the play to be profitable in the
game we was playing.
The secret is to know the best way to play a hand and then
play it that way no matter what the outcome. We lost a big hand
but wont let that change how we play in the future. Starting Hands
Starting hands need to have four cards that work together in
some way.
Hands with three strong cards and an unrelated fourth card
can sometimes be played, but overall theyre much weaker than
cards with four cards that support each other.
The hands listed above in the scooping section are all good
starting hands. If you skipped that section go back to see
examples of strong high only hands and good two way hands.
The player entering the hand with the best Omaha 8 starting
hand is going to win more often than the players with the weaker
hand. This means that you need to start concentrating on playing
better hands than your opponents. The only way to do this is to
play fewer hands.
You need to play fewer hands than most Texas holdem players
play, not more. Just because you have twice as many starting
cards doesnt mean you can play twice as many hands.
Weve played in many pot limit games profitably while seeing
close to 15 of the flops. 20 is a good percentage to shoot for
in a full ring game, but at the lower levels you should be able
to play profitably as long as you stay at 25 or lower. As you
start facing better competition youll probably need to get
tighter unless your post flop play is very strong.
Some players can play more starting hands profitably, but as
youre learning to play youre not one of them. Until you get
really good at making the correct plays almost every time after
the flop you need to concentrate on entering pots with better
hands than your opponents.
Here are some examples of starting hands that work together.
You have three great cards to a low, two different high flush
possibilities and an ace and king for an outside shot at a high
straight. When you start playing you get excited when you see
starting hands like this but then half the time the flop doesnt
help. Its ok to get excited, but the hand still needs to
improve to win.
A double suited pair of aces with a 2 and a 3 is the best
possible starting hand in Omaha Hi Lo. But dont get attached to
it after the flop. A flop with a high pair and nothing to help
you with four opponents is bad news.
This hand needs help to win in the form of a 2 on the board
for a low hand and / or a queen for a high set. Its still a
nice two way hand and worth seeing the flop with, especially in
a heads up situation.
Here are some examples of starting hands that have a small
problem but can still be played from late position.
This hand doesnt have a flush possibility but does offer a
chance at the nut low and has two high cards in the ace and
king. The 8 is almost worthless, but in a heads up hand it can
offer a small amount of counterfeit protection. The ace and king
will rarely combine for a winning high hand so this hand is one
of the weaker ace two hands. You can play most ace two hands in
most low limit games, but weve been in games where this hand
should be folded from early position or when facing a raise or
two.
The seven is worthless except its suited with the ace. If
the flop doesnt have a two helping you on your way to a
possible nut low or at least two spades you probably need to get
out of the hand quickly. This hand should only be played from
late position in most games.
You dont want to play the second set of hands from early
position unless youre able to play a strong game after the flop
and get paid off when you hit. If you have any questions about
whether or not to play a hand you should fold. Position
If youre an above average Texas holdem player you probably
understand how important position is when playing poker.
Position is not as important in Omaha as it is while playing
Texas holdem, but its still important.
The simple fact is if your opponents have to act before you
have to act you have more information than they do when you have
to make a decision.
Omaha is a game of information. The player with the most
information has the best chance to win in the long run.
When you consider your position at the table in every
decision you make your Omaha profits will start climbing.
Combining proper starting hands with positions awareness
creates the first steps in profitable Omaha Hi Lo play. Beginning Strategy
As a player trying to learn beginning strategy, youve
already learned about most of the important things to
concentrate on. Win The Button Poker Strategy Cheat
At the lower limits if you play 20 of your starting hands,
learn how important position is, and concentrate on finding
opportunities to scoop pots you can quickly become a break even
or winning player.
In most low limit games you can break even by just playing
fewer hands and playing straight forward poker. Much of the low
level competition is so bad that you just need to follow the
directions on this page and pay attention.
Track every hand you play and pay attention to the other
players. Know exactly how many flops you see and which opponents
have poor playing habits.
If you learn an opponent always calls down with second and
third best hands you know hell pay you off in scooping
situations. If you learn an opponent only plays ace two hands in
low pots from early position youll know to avoid second best
low hands when facing her.
You can find a million things about your opponents that are
helpful if you just start paying attention. Intermediate Strategy
Intermediate Omaha Hi Lo play is when youre able to break
even or start playing for a small profit. You understand
position, have a solid starting hand understanding, and can
recognize scoop situations and when you need to get out of a
hand most of the time.
At this point youre starting to understand Omaha Hi Lo
better and feel like you can beat most of the games filled with
poor players.
Weve listed four different areas intermediate players need
to understand to advance to the next level. They arent the only
intermediate strategy ideas in the world, but each of them is
important if you want to win in the long run. Knowing When to Fold
One of the big turning points for most Omaha Hi Lo players is
when they realize how much its worth to know when to fold after
the flop instead of chasing long shots and second and third best
hands. In many pot limit games you can win a few big pots that
can make a session profitable even if you dont win any small
pots.
Just because you have a pair of aces before the flop doesnt
mean the pair of kings on the flop didnt give your opponent a
set. The less money you put in the pot after a bad flop the more
youll have to play pots that have scoop possibilities later. Table Selection
We almost included this in the beginning section, but almost
every beginner ignores advice about table selection so weve
included it here where we hope youll learn from it. Take a few
minutes to consider the competition at the table before you
start playing. If most of the players at the table are worse
players than you its bound to increase your chances to win.
Wed rather play with eight players who werent as good as us
than eight players whore better than us. Even if it takes extra
time, find games that offer the best chance to win. Watching out for Counterfeiting
When you have a low hand and one of the low cards in your
hand lands on the board its called getting counterfeited.
Heres an example.
You have and the board is so you have
the nut low. The turn is the so you still have a low but its no longer the nut low.
If you had a 5 instead of the jack it would have offered
counterfeit protection.
You dont have to only play hands with counterfeit
protection, but if you get involved in a big pot with only a low
possibility you need protection. Beginning players dont tend to
think ahead too far in the hand, but at this level you need to
start seeing things like this and planning for the possibility
of getting counterfeited. Adjusting for Heads Up Play
Heads up hands are closer in value than in Texas holdem. In
holdem a pair of aces is dominant over a hand with a 9 and a 5.
The pair of aces will win a high percentage of the time.
In Omaha Hi Lo, the best hand isnt nearly as dominant
against the weaker hands in heads up play. This is especially
true if the weaker hands have any possibility of low. Even a
hand with 5 and 8 or 6 and 7 can make a low if the opponents
hand doesnt have a low possibility or gets counterfeited.
As three or more players enter most hands at low and medium
levels, you cant play your poor hands, but you need to
understand the possibilities when hands get heads up.
If the hand gets heads up on the turn or river, your fourth
best low with your second best high is probably enough to call a
bet. Advanced Strategy
When poker players get to an advanced strategy stage the game
has gone beyond simple steps and discussions. In order to get to
an advanced level of Omaha Hi Lo play you have to move to a
state of mental awareness about the game and your opponents.
Advanced players enter every hand with a plan for every
possibility. You need to consider what youre going to do if an
opponent raises and what youll do when you miss the flop, when
you hit the flop, or when you flop a good draw.
You want to get to a point where everything you do at the
Omaha Hi Lo table is because its the best play in the long run.
You wont always know exactly what your opponent holds but
youll be able to narrow her possible holdings down to a few
possible hands.
Every decision has a most profitable or least costly way to
play. Some decisions lose money in the long run, so in these
situations you need to find the least costly way to play.
Heres an example of a situation that loses money in the long
run.
Any time youre in the small blind with a terrible hand
youll lose money no matter what you do over the long run. In
order to lose as little money as possible, the correct play is
to fold in the small blind with poor hands.
Amateur players look at the money in the small blind as a
commitment to the pot. They think its only a half bet to see
the flop and anything can happen on the flop, especially since
they have four cards instead of two.
As players advance beyond the beginning stage and start
learning more about the game they often still end up playing
hands from the small blind that cost them money in the long run.
They play hands that arent terrible, but because they have to
play the rest of the hand out of position are unprofitable
Once you understand that you should fold almost any hand from
the small blind that you would fold from early position youve
started moving into advanced play. The money you put in the pot
in the blinds is just a small fee required to have the
opportunity to scoop huge pots at other times. Once the money is
in the pot its no longer yours.
The same thought process is needed in the big blind. If an
opponent raises and you have a poor hand simply fold. Dont
defend your blinds with weak hands unless youre a top player
and know your opponents very well.
When youre in the big blind and the pre flop play is checked
to you with a weak hand youll see the flop, but dont invest
another dollar in the pot without a monster flop for you.
The blinds are just two examples of how your thought process
needs to be in order to play Omaha Hi Lo at an advanced level.
As you advance from the low limits to the medium limits your
opponents get a little better, but the game and correct
strategies are much the same.
But when you start playing at the highest limits the game
changes quite a bit.
Before going on, you should know that plenty of really good
players stay at the medium levels and make good money. You dont
have to play at the highest levels to be a pro and be
profitable.
At the highest levels most pots are contested heads up or at
the most with three players seeing the flop. Almost all hands
are played with at least one raise pre flop.
Think about some of the ways this changes the game. When
youre playing heads up the second best high and the second best
low will almost always win at least half the pot and will have a
good shot at a scoop.
Its difficult to cover advanced Omaha Hi Lo strategy in
print because you either have enough experience to understand it
or you dont.
The good news is if youre a beginning or intermediate player
you can work toward advanced play. Concentrate on the other
things covered on this page including starting hand selection,
position; always trying to make the best possible play in every
situation, and develop a plan in your mind for every decision
and youll be well on your way toward winning play. Summary
You can find entire books written about Omaha Hi Lo, but if
you start using everything youve learned on this page you
should be able to break even or start turning a small profit at
the lower levels. As you gain experience youll get better and
start being able to move up to higher levels. Part of a series on Strategy
Strategy Strategic management
Military strategy Maritime strategy
Strategic planning Game theory
Strategic studies Strategic thinking
Michael Porter Rita Gunther McGrath
Bruce Henderson Gary Hamel
Candace A. Yano C. K. Prahalad
Jim Collins Liddell Hart
Carl von Clausewitz Sun Tzu
Julian Corbett Alfred Thayer Mahan
J.C. Wylie Adrian Slywotzky
Sharon Oster Chris Zook
Henry Mintzberg Clay Christensen
Competitive advantage Experience curve
Value chain Portfolio theory
Core competency Generic strategies
Sharing economy Performance effects
SWOT Five forces
PEST analysis Growthshare matrix
Poker is a popular card game that combines elements of chance and strategy. There are various styles of poker, all of which share an objective of presenting the least probable or highest-scoring hand. A poker hand is usually a configuration of five cards depending on the variant, either held entirely by a player or drawn partly from a number of shared, community cards. Players bet on their hands in a number of rounds as cards are drawn, employing various mathematical and intuitive strategies in an attempt to better opponents.
Given the game's many different forms and various dynamics, poker strategy becomes a complex subject. This article attempts to introduce only the basic strategy concepts. The fundamental theorem of poker [ edit ] David Sklansky at the World Series of Poker
The fundamental theorem of poker, introduced by David Sklansky, states: Every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponents' cards, you gain, and every time your opponents play their cards differently from the way they would play them if they could see your cards, you gain. [1] This theorem is the foundation for many poker strategy topics. For example, bluffing and slow-playing (explained below) are examples of using deception to induce your opponents to play differently from how they would if they could see your cards. There are some exceptions to the fundamental theorem in certain multi-way pot situations, as described in Morton's theorem. Pot odds, implied odds and poker probabilities [ edit ]
The relationship between pot odds and odds of winning is one of the most important concepts in poker strategy. Pot odds are the ratio of the size of the pot to the size of the bet required to stay in the pot. [1] For example, if a player must call $10 for a chance to win a $40 pot ( not including their $10 call), their pot odds are 4-to-1. To have a positive expectation, a player's odds of winning must be better than their pot odds. If the player's odds of winning are also 4-to-1 (20 chance of winning), their expected return is to break even (on average, losing four times and winning once for every five times they play such a pot).
Implied odds is a more complicated concept, though related to pot odds. The implied odds on a hand are based not on the money currently in the pot, but on the expected size of the pot at the end of the hand. When facing an even money situation (like the one described in the previous paragraph) and holding a strong drawing hand (say a Four flush) a skilled player will consider calling a bet or even opening based on their implied odds. This is particularly true in multi-way pots, where it is likely that one or more opponents will call all the way to showdown. Deception [ edit ]
By employing deception, a poker player hopes to induce their opponent(s) to act differently from how they would if they could see their cards. David Sklansky has argued that winning at poker is often decided by how much one player can force another to change his/her style while successfully maintaining their own strategy. [2] Bluffing is a form of deception where players bet strongly on a weak hand to induce opponents to fold superior hands. Related is the semi-bluff , in which a player who does not have a strong hand, but has a chance to improve it to a strong hand in later rounds, bets strongly on the hand in the hopes of inducing other players with weaker 'made' hands to fold. Slow-playing is deceptive play in poker that is roughly the opposite of bluffing: checking or betting weakly with a strong holding, attempting to induce other players with weaker hands to call or raise the bet instead of folding, to increase the payout. Position [ edit ] A standard Texas hold 'em game with blinds
Position refers to the order in which players are seated around the table and the strategic consequences of this. Generally, players in earlier position (who have to act first) need stronger hands to bet/raise or call than players in later position. For example, if there are five opponents yet to act behind a player, there is a greater chance one of the yet to act opponents will have a better hand than if there were only one opponent yet to act. Being in late position is an advantage because a player gets to see how their opponents in earlier position act (which provides the player more information about their hands than they have about his). This information, coupled with a low bet to a late player, may allow the player to 'limp in' with a weaker hand when they would have folded the same hand if they'd had to act earlier. Position is one of the most vital elements to understand in order to be a long-term winning player. As a player's position improves, so too does the range of cards with which they can profitably enter a hand. Conversely this commonly held knowledge can be used to an intelligent poker player's advantage. If playing against observant opponents, then a raise with any two cards can 'steal the blinds,' if executed against passive players at the right time. Reasons to raise [ edit ]
Unlike calling, raising has an extra way to win: opponents may fold. An opening bet may be considered a raise from a strategy perspective. David Sklansky gives seven reasons for raising, summarized below. [1]
To get more money in the pot when a player has the best hand: If a player has the best hand, raising for value enables them to win a bigger pot.
To drive out opponents when a player has the best hand: If a player has a made hand, raising may protect their hand by driving out opponents with drawing hands who may otherwise improve to a better hand.
To bluff A player raises with an inferior or 'trash' hand attempts to deceive other players about the strength of their hand, and hopefully induce a better hand to fold.
To semi-bluff A player with a drawing hand may raise both to bluff and for value. While technically still a bluff, as the player may not end up with a made hand and is primarily trying to drive out players, the player still has the opportunity to make his or her hand and win the pot if the bluff is called.
To block Players on drawing hands may put out a 'blocking bet' against players who are likely to bet when checked to, but unlikely to raise when bet into. This is a small bet made on a drawing hand to lessen the likelihood of having to call a larger bet from a player in late position.
To get a free card: If a player raises with a drawing hand, their opponent may call the bet and check to them on the next betting round, giving them a chance to get a free card to improve their hand.
To gain information: If a player raises with an uncertain hand, they gain information about the strength of their opponent's hand if they are called. Players may use an opening bet on a later betting round ( probe or continuation bets) to gain information by being called or raised (or may win the pot immediately).
To drive out worse hands when a player's own hand may be second best: A combination protection and probe raise, a player with a strong hand but not the 'nuts' (the hole cards that make the best possible hand given the current face-up cards) may raise, both to induce drawing hands that may improve to the 'nut hand' to fold, while also testing to see if another player has the 'nuts'.
To drive out better hands when a drawing hand bets: If an opponent with an apparent drawing hand has bet before the player to act, if the player raises, opponents behind them who may have a better hand may fold rather than call two bets 'cold'. This is a form of isolation play, and has elements of blocking and protection. Reasons to call [ edit ]
There are several reasons for calling a bet or raise, summarized below.
To see more cards: With a drawing hand, a player may be receiving the correct pot odds with the call to see more cards.
To limit loss in equity: Calling may be appropriate when a player has adequate pot odds to call but will lose equity on additional money contributed to the pot with a raise.
To avoid a re-raise: Only calling (and not raising) denies the original bettor the option of re-raising. However, this is only completely safe in case the player is last to act (i.e. 'closing the action').
To conceal the strength of a player's hand: If a player has a very strong hand, they might smooth call on an early betting round to avoid giving away the strength of their hand on the hope of getting more money into the pot in later betting rounds.
To manipulate pot odds: By calling (not raising), a player offers any opponents yet to act behind them more favorable pot odds to also call. For example, if a player has a very strong hand, a smooth call may encourage opponents behind them to overcall or even raise, building the pot. Particularly in limit games, building the pot in an earlier betting round may induce opponents to call future bets in later betting rounds because of the pot odds they will be receiving.
To set up a bluff on a later betting round: Sometimes referred to as a long-ball bluff , calling on an earlier betting round can set up a bluff (or semi-bluff) on a later betting round. For instance, a player with a strong initial hand may call instead of raise to see the flop cheaply. That flop may not benefit the player, but the player may still have many 'outs' (cards left to deal that could make a strong hand), or even if the odds are slim they can try to bluff. By raising, this scenario may appear to an opponent like a player who has 'limped in' with a weak initial hand, but after the flop now has a strong made or drawing hand. A recent online term for 'long-ball bluffing' is floating. [3] Gap concept [ edit ]
The gap concept states that a player needs a better hand to play against someone who has already opened (or raised) the betting than he would need to open himself. [4] The gap concept reflects that players prefer to avoid confrontations with other players who have already indicated strength, and that calling only has one way to win (by having the best hand), whereas opening may also win immediately if your opponent(s) fold. Sandwich effect [ edit ]
Related to the gap effect, the sandwich effect states that a player needs a stronger hand to stay in a pot when there are opponents yet to act behind him. [3] Because the player does not know how many opponents will be involved in the pot or whether he will have to call a re-raise, he does not know what his effective pot odds actually are. Therefore, a stronger hand is desired as compensation for this uncertainty. A squeeze play exploits this principle. Loose/tight play [ edit ]
Loose players play relatively more hands and tend to continue with weaker hands; hence they do not often fold. Tight players play relatively fewer hands and tend not to continue with weaker hands; hence they often fold. The following concepts are applicable in loose games (and their inverse in tight games): [1]
Bluffs and semi-bluffs are less effective because loose opponents are less likely to fold.
Requirements for continuing with made hands may be lower because loose players may also be playing lower value hands.
Drawing to incomplete hands, like flushes, tends to be more valuable as draws will often get favorable pot odds and a stronger hand (rather than merely one pair) is often required to win in multi-way pots. Aggressive/passive play [ edit ] Win The Button Poker Strategy Tactics
Aggressive play refers to betting and raising. Passive play refers to checking and calling. Unless passive play is being used deceptively as mentioned above, aggressive play is generally considered stronger than passive play because of the bluff value of bets and raises and because it offers more opportunities for your opponents to make mistakes. [1] Hand reading, tells and leveling [ edit ]
Hand reading is the process of making educated guesses about the possible cards an opponent may hold, based on the sequence of actions in the pot. The term 'hand reading' is actually a misnomer, as skilled players do not attempt to assign a player to an exact hand. Rather they attempt to narrow the possibilities down to a range of probable hands based on the past actions of their opponent, during both the current hand and previous hands played by this opponent.
Tells are detectable changes in opponents' behavior or demeanor which provide clues about their hands or their intentions. Educated guesses about opponents' cards and intentions can help a player avoid mistakes in his own play, induce mistakes by the opponents, or influence the opponents to take actions that they would not normally take under the circumstances. For example, a tell might suggest that an opponent has missed a draw, so a player seeing it may decide a bluff would be more effective than usual. Win The Button Poker Strategy Against
Leveling or multiple level thinking is accounting for what the other opponents think about the hands. This information can then be used to the player's advantage. Some players might be able to make educated guesses about opponents' hands; this could be seen as the first level. The second level could be thought of as the combination of the first level and deducing what the opponents think the player's hand may be. Skilled players can adjust their game play to be on a higher level than that of less skilled opponents. Table image and opponent profiling [ edit ]
By observing the tendencies and patterns of one's opponents, one can make more educated guesses about others' potential holdings. For example, if a player has been playing extremely tightly (playing very few hands), then when he/she finally enters a pot, one may surmise that he/she has stronger than average cards. One's table image is the perception by one's opponents of one's own pattern of play. A player can leverage their table image by playing out of character, and thereby inducing his/her opponents to misjudge his/her hand and make a mistake.
In live poker, as opposed to internet, stereotypes are often used for initial 'reads'. For instance, people of retirement age are often witnessed to play tight. Players will often project this image on unknown people of retirement age. Young people wearing headphones and hoodies are often witnessed to play more aggressively and mathematically if they played a lot of winning internet poker. These stereotypes can often be good bases to start a profile.
Often, there is a rather small pool of players in a given card playing venue. People will carry their history of playing with them in these environments.
Internet poker players can use large databases of hand histories to get a more precise player profile. Statistical information about opponents is displayed on the tables in the form of a heads up display. The most commonly used software is PokerTracker and Hold'em Manager. Equity [ edit ]
Players' equity in a pot is their expected share of the pot, expressed either as a percentage (probability of winning) or expected value (amount of pot * probability of winning). Negative equity , or loss in equity , occurs when contributing to a pot with a probability of winning less than 1 / (number of opponents matching the contribution+1). Example Alice contributes $12 to a pot and is matched by two other opponents. Alice's $12 contribution 'bought' the chance to win $36. If Alice's probability of winning is 50, her equity in the $36 pot is $18 (a gain in equity because her $12 is now 'worth' $18). If her probability of winning is only 10, Alice loses equity because her $12 is now only 'worth' $3.60 (amount of pot * probability of winning). Texas hold 'em example Alice holds J 8 . Bob holds K 7 . After the flop, the board is 567 . If both hands are played to a showdown, Alice has a 45 chance to win (which she is unaware of, because she does not know what hand Bob holds), Bob has a 53 chance to win and there is a 2 chance to split the pot. The pot currently has $51. Alice goes all-in for $45 reasoning that she can take the pot immediately if Bob folds or that Bob calls with a worse hand. Bob's simple pot odds for the call are also 32; since his equity of 53 is greater than the pot odds he has to call, Bob has a positive expected value for the call (if he knew Alice's hole cards). Short-handed considerations [ edit ]
When playing short-handed (at a table with 3-6 players), players must loosen up their play (play more hands) for several reasons: [1]
There is less likelihood of another player having a strong hand because there are fewer players.
Each player's share of the forced bets increases because there are fewer players contributing to the forced bets, thus waiting for premium hands becomes more expensive.
This type of situation comes up most often in tournament style play. In a cash game, the adjustments are very similar, but not quite as drastic as the table can ask for what is known as a 'rake break.' A rake break occurs when the floor-man, who represents the casino, agrees to take a smaller portion than usual for the hand. For example, a random casino might normally receive 10 of the pot up to 5 dollars for a 'rake.' In this case the table would only owe 10 up to 3 dollars until there are a sufficient number of players again. In online poker rake breaks are determined automatically. Structure considerations [ edit ]
The blinds and antes and limit structure of the game have a significant influence on poker strategy. For example, it is easier to manipulate pot odds in no-limit and pot-limit games than in limit games. In tournaments, as the size of the forced bets relative to the chip stacks grows, pressure is placed on players to play pots to avoid being anted/blinded away. [5] Mindset considerations [ edit ]
In 2014, Bwin conducted a study to see what makes a professional poker player. The brain activity of poker players, of varying degrees, was monitored using EEG headsets and visualised into brain maps. [6] Leading sports psychologist, James Hazlett, then interpreted the findings:
More experienced players showed higher levels of focus and concentration throughout the game.
The amateur players had less control over their emotions, and were prone to allowing negative emotions, such as frustration, distract them.
Whilst opponents were taking their turn, the expert players opened up another table or watched replays of hands they had played poorly to improve.
The brain maps showed that the professional players were led more by logic and intuition.
The conclusions of the study suggest that poker players can improve their strategy by considering their mindset. Mental training techniques, commonly used by athletes, could therefore help to improve performance by working on elements such as self-control and concentration. See also [ edit ] Poker plays [ edit ] Specific games [ edit ] Notes [ edit ]
a b c d e f David Sklansky (1987). The Theory of Poker . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-00-0 .
Milovsky, Nicholas. 'The Basics of Game Theory and Associated Games' . Retrieved 11 February 2014 .
a b Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie (2004). Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy For No-Limit Tournaments; Volume I: Strategic Play . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-33-7 .
David Sklansky (2001). Tournament Poker for Advanced Players . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-28-0 .
Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie (2005). Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy For No-Limit Tournaments; Volume II: The Endgame . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-35-3 .
Your Brain on Poker Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poker_strategyoldid=985821361'
Win The Button Poker Strategy Tactics
Win The Button Poker Strategy Against
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Omaha Hi Lo is a fun and potentially profitable poker
variation.
It offers a nice change of pace for Texas holdem players and
when you learn the best way to play can be more profitable.
This page includes sections on how to play and strategy. If
youre sure you already know how to play you can skip to the
strategy section, but if you have any questions at all about the
exact rules itll only take a couple minutes to read through the
how to play section.
Did you know you have to use exactly two of your hole cards
and exactly three of the board cards to form a hand? In Texas
holdem you can use any number of hole cards and up to and
including five community cards.
If you didnt know the difference read the rules section
before moving on. How to Play Omaha Hi Lo Rules Dealer Position Blinds
One player is designated as the dealer position, usually
shown with a white button with the word dealer on it. The player
to the immediate left of the dealer position is the small blind
and the player to the immediate left of the small blind is the
big blind.
The dealer button is passed one player to the left after each
hand is completed.
The big blind places a forced wager set by the table limits
and the small blind places a bet usually half the size of the
big blind. In limit games the small blind is half the big blind,
but in pot limit and no limit games it can be different.
In a 10 / 20 limit game, the big blind is 10 and the small
blind is 5. Dealing a Hand
Starting with the player in the small blind, each player
receives four cards face down, dealt one at a time to the left
around the table. Pre-Flop Betting
After each player receives four hole cards the player to the
left of the big blind may choose from one of the following
options.
Fold (discard their cards and sit out the rest of the
hand)
Call (the amount of the big blind)
Raise
Play moves to the next player to the left who either folds,
calls the largest previous wager, or raises. After each player
has the opportunity to act the play moves on to the left. When
play reaches the small blind she either calls the remaining part
of the largest bet above her blind amount, folds or raises. Then
the big blind can check if the hand hasnt been raised, fold if
the hand has been raised, call a raise, or raise.
Play continues to the left until every player has folded or
called the highest wager. The Flop
The next step is the three card flop. The flop is the
beginning of the community card area.
Community cards are used by all the players remaining in the
hand to form a five card high hand and a five card low hand when
possible.
After the three cards on the flop are turned face up the
first player to the left of the dealer button remaining in the
hand is the first to act. This player has the following two
options.
Check (passing the option to bet onto the next player)
Bet
Play continues to the left with each remaining player having
the option to check if a bet hasnt been made, or to call a bet,
fold, or raise.
Play continues to the left until each player remaining in the
hand has called the highest bet amount. The Turn
The fourth community card, called the turn, is then dealt and
another betting round structured the same way as the one after
the flop is conducted.
In a limit game all bets are a set amount. Using the same 10
/ 20 example from above, all bets before and on the flop would
be 10. All bets on the turn and river are 20. The River
After betting is completed on the turn the fifth and final
community card, called the river, is dealt face up. A final
betting round, identical to the one following the turn, is
conducted. After this round of betting the remaining players
show their cards and the winner or winners are paid from the
pot. Making a Hand
Each player must use exactly two cards from her hand and
three of the community cards to form their best five card high
hand and best five card low hand if a low is possible. You dont
have to use the same two cards to form a high and low hand.
Here are a couple of examples.
Your Hand: .
Community Cards:
Youd use your
and
with the
and
to form a low and your
and
with the
and
for a high hand.
Your Hand:
Community Cards:
On this occasion youd use your
and
with the
and
for both your high and low hand.
The only time a low hand is possible is when at least three
unpaired cards eight and below are on the board. Warning
The biggest mistake Omaha Hi Lo players make is
forgetting they have to use exactly two hole cards and three
board cards to form a hand.
If no low hand is possible the entire pot is awarded to the
player with the best high hand. If two or more players tie for
the best high hand they split the pot.
When a low hand qualifies, the pot is split between the best
high hand and the best low hand. If more than one person ties
for the best high or best low hand the half of the pot that is
tied is split between the players who tied. How to Read the Board
Most players dont struggle much when it comes to determining
their best high hand, but figuring out the best low hand can be
tricky until you get used to how to read the board.
The easiest way to read low hands and figure out which hand
is lowest is to take each players five lowest unpaired cards and
read them backwards like a number.
Heres an example.
A 2 3 4 5 = 54,321
A 2 3 4 6 = 64,321
A 4 5 6 7 = 76,541
A 2 3 7 8 = 87,321
Once you get used to reading low hands its pretty easy, but
dont hesitate to ask the dealer to wait at the end of a hand
until you clearly see the value of each hand. Variations
The two most popular variations of Omaha Hi Lo are limit and
pot limit. It can be played for no limit stakes, but most online
poker rooms only offer pot limit and limit.
Even the few that have no limit capabilities rarely have
players at the tables.
If player interest is high enough most land based poker rooms
will spread a no limit Omaha Hi Lo game, but youre more likely
to find a pot limit game.
Though most dealers dont have any problems with pot limit
games, its more difficult than no limit games and it can be
slower. Poker rooms dont like anything that slows down the
games because the fewer hands per hour they run the lower the
rake they make from each table. Why Omaha Hi Lo Can Be More Profitable
Most poker players started playing Texas holdem. In holdem,
you receive a two card starting hand so at the beginning of the
first round of betting you dont know where any of the other 50
cards are located.
As players make bets, calls, and raises you can get an idea
of a range of starting hands they may hold. When the flop is
dealt you know the value of the two cards in your hand and the
three cards on the flop, for a total of 5 known cards and 47
unknown cards.
You know one more card value on the turn and another on the
river. After the river card is dealt you know the value of 7
cards and you dont know the value of 45 cards.
In Omaha Hi Lo you know the value of two more cards on each
round of betting. While this may not seem like much, its
actually a considerable advantage.
Heres a chart comparing the percentage of known cards at
each level of a hand in Texas holdem and Omaha. Texas Holdem Omaha Hi Lo Before the flop 3.8 7.7 After the flop 9.6 13.5 After the turn 11.5 15.4 After the river 13.5 15.4
Notice that in Omaha you have twice as much information
before the flop as you do in Texas holdem and after the river
you know almost 5 more. These higher percentages make Omaha Hi
Lo a more predictable and mathematical straight forward game.
Smart players use this extra information to make better
decisions and make more money than average players.
If youre asking why this makes a difference, because
everyone has the same amount of information, you need to
consider this a different way.
Everyone has access to the same amount of information, but
most players dont know what to do with the information.
Because you have more information by knowing a higher
percentage of card values than in holdem, you can determine the
mathematically correct play more often playing Omaha Hi Lo. Omaha Hi Lo Strategy
The same basic strategies used in most forms of poker are the
ones you should use while playing Omaha Hi Lo.
The Omaha Hi Lo specific strategies that you need to combine
with common poker tactics are covered in the sections below. Scooping
The most important thing to remember when deciding what to do
in Omaha Hi Lo is that you need to put yourself into position to
scoop pots. While you can make a little money winning half the
pot, the real money is in scooping and winning three quarters of
the pot.
You have two ways to scoop pots. You can win both the high
and low part of a split pot or have the best high hand in a pot
that doesnt have a low possibility.
Every decision you make needs to be made with an eye on
scooping possibilities.
Of course most hands dont play out in a way where you have a
choice, but if you had to pick having a best high hand or a best
low hand you want the best high hand. High hands are rarely
split while low hands are split often.
To give yourself the best chance to scoop a pot you need to
play high only hands and two way hands.
A high only hand has high pairs, face cards, large suited
cards, and other combinations that give you a strong chance to
have the nut high hand on a high only board.
Two way hands almost always have an ace in combination with
one or two low cards and one or two high cards. If the ace is
suited to one of the other cards it makes the hand stronger.
Examples of high only hands include:
Examples of two way hands include: Getting Quartered or Worse
Most Omaha Hi Lo players enter any pot where they hold an ace
and a two, so low hands that dont have an ace and two on the
board are often split between two or more players. In this case
the player with the best high hand gets half the pot and the two
players with the tied low hand each receive a quarter of the
pot.
Sometimes a player will tie for low and have the best high
hand, receiving three quarters of the pot.
You want to avoid only winning a quarter of the pot, called
being quartered, as often as possible. Unless a great deal of
money is in the pot from early in the hand from players who
dont win part of the pot, its difficult to come out ahead in a
hand where youve been quartered.
If three players tie for the best low hand its even worse.
This is the main reason when you consider starting hands its
important to have some chance at a high hand when you have a
strong low starting hand. You need to win the high half of the
pot in combination with the low half, or part of the low half,
in order to turn a consistent profit in the long run. The Nuts and Second Best Hands
Texas holdem players often see top pair top kicker hands hold
up and usually win with a flush, even if its only jack or ten
high or when the board pairs.
In Omaha Hi Lo you rarely win with hands like these.
While the nuts arent always required to win a hand, the
average value of winning hands is higher than in Texas holdem.
Anything below a set is unlikely to win a high hand.
Straights and flushes are closer to the average high hands and
if a full house is possible try not to bank on winning the
high half unless being the one with the full house.
A full house is only possible when the board pairs because
you have to use two hole cards to form a hand.
The rule of thumb is if youre drawing you need to be drawing
to either the nuts or a strong enough hand that youre a huge
favorite to win when you hit.
When the board is paired the nuts is four of a kind, but the
top possible full house is good enough to draw to if the pot is
offering the correct odds.
The next rule of thumb is never draw to a low that isnt the
nut low. You end up getting quartered with low hands too often
to take the chance to draw to a second or third best low hand.
If you have a two way hand it can be profitable to draw to a
second or third best low, but only if the high half of your hand
is strong.
Drawing to a second best low and a second best high can be
marginally profitable in some games, but it can cost you a great
deal of money at times. Heres an example of a recent hand we played.
After the flop we had a set of kings and a draw to the second
best low with two other players in the pot. It was a limit Omaha
Hi Lo game and we bet and raised a few times before the turn.
The turn added a draw to a straight and bets continued being
made. The turn completed the low, so we had the second best low
and the second best high hand. The betting was capped on the
river and we ended up losing both sides of the pot.
We got stuck in the hand because by the time the river card
was dealt the pot held enough that in the long run we had to
stay in the hand. The only thing we could have done differently
was minimize our exposure early in the hand, but at the time we
had the best high and a draw to the second best low.
In other words, we lost a big pot but will play the hand the
same way in the future.
If the board had paired on the river instead of completing
the low wed have scooped a big pot. The board will pair enough
times for the play to be profitable. Well also win either the
low or high enough times for the play to be profitable in the
game we was playing.
The secret is to know the best way to play a hand and then
play it that way no matter what the outcome. We lost a big hand
but wont let that change how we play in the future. Starting Hands
Starting hands need to have four cards that work together in
some way.
Hands with three strong cards and an unrelated fourth card
can sometimes be played, but overall theyre much weaker than
cards with four cards that support each other.
The hands listed above in the scooping section are all good
starting hands. If you skipped that section go back to see
examples of strong high only hands and good two way hands.
The player entering the hand with the best Omaha 8 starting
hand is going to win more often than the players with the weaker
hand. This means that you need to start concentrating on playing
better hands than your opponents. The only way to do this is to
play fewer hands.
You need to play fewer hands than most Texas holdem players
play, not more. Just because you have twice as many starting
cards doesnt mean you can play twice as many hands.
Weve played in many pot limit games profitably while seeing
close to 15 of the flops. 20 is a good percentage to shoot for
in a full ring game, but at the lower levels you should be able
to play profitably as long as you stay at 25 or lower. As you
start facing better competition youll probably need to get
tighter unless your post flop play is very strong.
Some players can play more starting hands profitably, but as
youre learning to play youre not one of them. Until you get
really good at making the correct plays almost every time after
the flop you need to concentrate on entering pots with better
hands than your opponents.
Here are some examples of starting hands that work together.
You have three great cards to a low, two different high flush
possibilities and an ace and king for an outside shot at a high
straight. When you start playing you get excited when you see
starting hands like this but then half the time the flop doesnt
help. Its ok to get excited, but the hand still needs to
improve to win.
A double suited pair of aces with a 2 and a 3 is the best
possible starting hand in Omaha Hi Lo. But dont get attached to
it after the flop. A flop with a high pair and nothing to help
you with four opponents is bad news.
This hand needs help to win in the form of a 2 on the board
for a low hand and / or a queen for a high set. Its still a
nice two way hand and worth seeing the flop with, especially in
a heads up situation.
Here are some examples of starting hands that have a small
problem but can still be played from late position.
This hand doesnt have a flush possibility but does offer a
chance at the nut low and has two high cards in the ace and
king. The 8 is almost worthless, but in a heads up hand it can
offer a small amount of counterfeit protection. The ace and king
will rarely combine for a winning high hand so this hand is one
of the weaker ace two hands. You can play most ace two hands in
most low limit games, but weve been in games where this hand
should be folded from early position or when facing a raise or
two.
The seven is worthless except its suited with the ace. If
the flop doesnt have a two helping you on your way to a
possible nut low or at least two spades you probably need to get
out of the hand quickly. This hand should only be played from
late position in most games.
You dont want to play the second set of hands from early
position unless youre able to play a strong game after the flop
and get paid off when you hit. If you have any questions about
whether or not to play a hand you should fold. Position
If youre an above average Texas holdem player you probably
understand how important position is when playing poker.
Position is not as important in Omaha as it is while playing
Texas holdem, but its still important.
The simple fact is if your opponents have to act before you
have to act you have more information than they do when you have
to make a decision.
Omaha is a game of information. The player with the most
information has the best chance to win in the long run.
When you consider your position at the table in every
decision you make your Omaha profits will start climbing.
Combining proper starting hands with positions awareness
creates the first steps in profitable Omaha Hi Lo play. Beginning Strategy
As a player trying to learn beginning strategy, youve
already learned about most of the important things to
concentrate on. Win The Button Poker Strategy Cheat
At the lower limits if you play 20 of your starting hands,
learn how important position is, and concentrate on finding
opportunities to scoop pots you can quickly become a break even
or winning player.
In most low limit games you can break even by just playing
fewer hands and playing straight forward poker. Much of the low
level competition is so bad that you just need to follow the
directions on this page and pay attention.
Track every hand you play and pay attention to the other
players. Know exactly how many flops you see and which opponents
have poor playing habits.
If you learn an opponent always calls down with second and
third best hands you know hell pay you off in scooping
situations. If you learn an opponent only plays ace two hands in
low pots from early position youll know to avoid second best
low hands when facing her.
You can find a million things about your opponents that are
helpful if you just start paying attention. Intermediate Strategy
Intermediate Omaha Hi Lo play is when youre able to break
even or start playing for a small profit. You understand
position, have a solid starting hand understanding, and can
recognize scoop situations and when you need to get out of a
hand most of the time.
At this point youre starting to understand Omaha Hi Lo
better and feel like you can beat most of the games filled with
poor players.
Weve listed four different areas intermediate players need
to understand to advance to the next level. They arent the only
intermediate strategy ideas in the world, but each of them is
important if you want to win in the long run. Knowing When to Fold
One of the big turning points for most Omaha Hi Lo players is
when they realize how much its worth to know when to fold after
the flop instead of chasing long shots and second and third best
hands. In many pot limit games you can win a few big pots that
can make a session profitable even if you dont win any small
pots.
Just because you have a pair of aces before the flop doesnt
mean the pair of kings on the flop didnt give your opponent a
set. The less money you put in the pot after a bad flop the more
youll have to play pots that have scoop possibilities later. Table Selection
We almost included this in the beginning section, but almost
every beginner ignores advice about table selection so weve
included it here where we hope youll learn from it. Take a few
minutes to consider the competition at the table before you
start playing. If most of the players at the table are worse
players than you its bound to increase your chances to win.
Wed rather play with eight players who werent as good as us
than eight players whore better than us. Even if it takes extra
time, find games that offer the best chance to win. Watching out for Counterfeiting
When you have a low hand and one of the low cards in your
hand lands on the board its called getting counterfeited.
Heres an example.
You have and the board is so you have
the nut low. The turn is the so you still have a low but its no longer the nut low.
If you had a 5 instead of the jack it would have offered
counterfeit protection.
You dont have to only play hands with counterfeit
protection, but if you get involved in a big pot with only a low
possibility you need protection. Beginning players dont tend to
think ahead too far in the hand, but at this level you need to
start seeing things like this and planning for the possibility
of getting counterfeited. Adjusting for Heads Up Play
Heads up hands are closer in value than in Texas holdem. In
holdem a pair of aces is dominant over a hand with a 9 and a 5.
The pair of aces will win a high percentage of the time.
In Omaha Hi Lo, the best hand isnt nearly as dominant
against the weaker hands in heads up play. This is especially
true if the weaker hands have any possibility of low. Even a
hand with 5 and 8 or 6 and 7 can make a low if the opponents
hand doesnt have a low possibility or gets counterfeited.
As three or more players enter most hands at low and medium
levels, you cant play your poor hands, but you need to
understand the possibilities when hands get heads up.
If the hand gets heads up on the turn or river, your fourth
best low with your second best high is probably enough to call a
bet. Advanced Strategy
When poker players get to an advanced strategy stage the game
has gone beyond simple steps and discussions. In order to get to
an advanced level of Omaha Hi Lo play you have to move to a
state of mental awareness about the game and your opponents.
Advanced players enter every hand with a plan for every
possibility. You need to consider what youre going to do if an
opponent raises and what youll do when you miss the flop, when
you hit the flop, or when you flop a good draw.
You want to get to a point where everything you do at the
Omaha Hi Lo table is because its the best play in the long run.
You wont always know exactly what your opponent holds but
youll be able to narrow her possible holdings down to a few
possible hands.
Every decision has a most profitable or least costly way to
play. Some decisions lose money in the long run, so in these
situations you need to find the least costly way to play.
Heres an example of a situation that loses money in the long
run.
Any time youre in the small blind with a terrible hand
youll lose money no matter what you do over the long run. In
order to lose as little money as possible, the correct play is
to fold in the small blind with poor hands.
Amateur players look at the money in the small blind as a
commitment to the pot. They think its only a half bet to see
the flop and anything can happen on the flop, especially since
they have four cards instead of two.
As players advance beyond the beginning stage and start
learning more about the game they often still end up playing
hands from the small blind that cost them money in the long run.
They play hands that arent terrible, but because they have to
play the rest of the hand out of position are unprofitable
Once you understand that you should fold almost any hand from
the small blind that you would fold from early position youve
started moving into advanced play. The money you put in the pot
in the blinds is just a small fee required to have the
opportunity to scoop huge pots at other times. Once the money is
in the pot its no longer yours.
The same thought process is needed in the big blind. If an
opponent raises and you have a poor hand simply fold. Dont
defend your blinds with weak hands unless youre a top player
and know your opponents very well.
When youre in the big blind and the pre flop play is checked
to you with a weak hand youll see the flop, but dont invest
another dollar in the pot without a monster flop for you.
The blinds are just two examples of how your thought process
needs to be in order to play Omaha Hi Lo at an advanced level.
As you advance from the low limits to the medium limits your
opponents get a little better, but the game and correct
strategies are much the same.
But when you start playing at the highest limits the game
changes quite a bit.
Before going on, you should know that plenty of really good
players stay at the medium levels and make good money. You dont
have to play at the highest levels to be a pro and be
profitable.
At the highest levels most pots are contested heads up or at
the most with three players seeing the flop. Almost all hands
are played with at least one raise pre flop.
Think about some of the ways this changes the game. When
youre playing heads up the second best high and the second best
low will almost always win at least half the pot and will have a
good shot at a scoop.
Its difficult to cover advanced Omaha Hi Lo strategy in
print because you either have enough experience to understand it
or you dont.
The good news is if youre a beginning or intermediate player
you can work toward advanced play. Concentrate on the other
things covered on this page including starting hand selection,
position; always trying to make the best possible play in every
situation, and develop a plan in your mind for every decision
and youll be well on your way toward winning play. Summary
You can find entire books written about Omaha Hi Lo, but if
you start using everything youve learned on this page you
should be able to break even or start turning a small profit at
the lower levels. As you gain experience youll get better and
start being able to move up to higher levels. Part of a series on Strategy
Strategy Strategic management
Military strategy Maritime strategy
Strategic planning Game theory
Strategic studies Strategic thinking
Michael Porter Rita Gunther McGrath
Bruce Henderson Gary Hamel
Candace A. Yano C. K. Prahalad
Jim Collins Liddell Hart
Carl von Clausewitz Sun Tzu
Julian Corbett Alfred Thayer Mahan
J.C. Wylie Adrian Slywotzky
Sharon Oster Chris Zook
Henry Mintzberg Clay Christensen
Competitive advantage Experience curve
Value chain Portfolio theory
Core competency Generic strategies
Sharing economy Performance effects
SWOT Five forces
PEST analysis Growthshare matrix
Poker is a popular card game that combines elements of chance and strategy. There are various styles of poker, all of which share an objective of presenting the least probable or highest-scoring hand. A poker hand is usually a configuration of five cards depending on the variant, either held entirely by a player or drawn partly from a number of shared, community cards. Players bet on their hands in a number of rounds as cards are drawn, employing various mathematical and intuitive strategies in an attempt to better opponents.
Given the game's many different forms and various dynamics, poker strategy becomes a complex subject. This article attempts to introduce only the basic strategy concepts. The fundamental theorem of poker [ edit ] David Sklansky at the World Series of Poker
The fundamental theorem of poker, introduced by David Sklansky, states: Every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponents' cards, you gain, and every time your opponents play their cards differently from the way they would play them if they could see your cards, you gain. [1] This theorem is the foundation for many poker strategy topics. For example, bluffing and slow-playing (explained below) are examples of using deception to induce your opponents to play differently from how they would if they could see your cards. There are some exceptions to the fundamental theorem in certain multi-way pot situations, as described in Morton's theorem. Pot odds, implied odds and poker probabilities [ edit ]
The relationship between pot odds and odds of winning is one of the most important concepts in poker strategy. Pot odds are the ratio of the size of the pot to the size of the bet required to stay in the pot. [1] For example, if a player must call $10 for a chance to win a $40 pot ( not including their $10 call), their pot odds are 4-to-1. To have a positive expectation, a player's odds of winning must be better than their pot odds. If the player's odds of winning are also 4-to-1 (20 chance of winning), their expected return is to break even (on average, losing four times and winning once for every five times they play such a pot).
Implied odds is a more complicated concept, though related to pot odds. The implied odds on a hand are based not on the money currently in the pot, but on the expected size of the pot at the end of the hand. When facing an even money situation (like the one described in the previous paragraph) and holding a strong drawing hand (say a Four flush) a skilled player will consider calling a bet or even opening based on their implied odds. This is particularly true in multi-way pots, where it is likely that one or more opponents will call all the way to showdown. Deception [ edit ]
By employing deception, a poker player hopes to induce their opponent(s) to act differently from how they would if they could see their cards. David Sklansky has argued that winning at poker is often decided by how much one player can force another to change his/her style while successfully maintaining their own strategy. [2] Bluffing is a form of deception where players bet strongly on a weak hand to induce opponents to fold superior hands. Related is the semi-bluff , in which a player who does not have a strong hand, but has a chance to improve it to a strong hand in later rounds, bets strongly on the hand in the hopes of inducing other players with weaker 'made' hands to fold. Slow-playing is deceptive play in poker that is roughly the opposite of bluffing: checking or betting weakly with a strong holding, attempting to induce other players with weaker hands to call or raise the bet instead of folding, to increase the payout. Position [ edit ] A standard Texas hold 'em game with blinds
Position refers to the order in which players are seated around the table and the strategic consequences of this. Generally, players in earlier position (who have to act first) need stronger hands to bet/raise or call than players in later position. For example, if there are five opponents yet to act behind a player, there is a greater chance one of the yet to act opponents will have a better hand than if there were only one opponent yet to act. Being in late position is an advantage because a player gets to see how their opponents in earlier position act (which provides the player more information about their hands than they have about his). This information, coupled with a low bet to a late player, may allow the player to 'limp in' with a weaker hand when they would have folded the same hand if they'd had to act earlier. Position is one of the most vital elements to understand in order to be a long-term winning player. As a player's position improves, so too does the range of cards with which they can profitably enter a hand. Conversely this commonly held knowledge can be used to an intelligent poker player's advantage. If playing against observant opponents, then a raise with any two cards can 'steal the blinds,' if executed against passive players at the right time. Reasons to raise [ edit ]
Unlike calling, raising has an extra way to win: opponents may fold. An opening bet may be considered a raise from a strategy perspective. David Sklansky gives seven reasons for raising, summarized below. [1]
To get more money in the pot when a player has the best hand: If a player has the best hand, raising for value enables them to win a bigger pot.
To drive out opponents when a player has the best hand: If a player has a made hand, raising may protect their hand by driving out opponents with drawing hands who may otherwise improve to a better hand.
To bluff A player raises with an inferior or 'trash' hand attempts to deceive other players about the strength of their hand, and hopefully induce a better hand to fold.
To semi-bluff A player with a drawing hand may raise both to bluff and for value. While technically still a bluff, as the player may not end up with a made hand and is primarily trying to drive out players, the player still has the opportunity to make his or her hand and win the pot if the bluff is called.
To block Players on drawing hands may put out a 'blocking bet' against players who are likely to bet when checked to, but unlikely to raise when bet into. This is a small bet made on a drawing hand to lessen the likelihood of having to call a larger bet from a player in late position.
To get a free card: If a player raises with a drawing hand, their opponent may call the bet and check to them on the next betting round, giving them a chance to get a free card to improve their hand.
To gain information: If a player raises with an uncertain hand, they gain information about the strength of their opponent's hand if they are called. Players may use an opening bet on a later betting round ( probe or continuation bets) to gain information by being called or raised (or may win the pot immediately).
To drive out worse hands when a player's own hand may be second best: A combination protection and probe raise, a player with a strong hand but not the 'nuts' (the hole cards that make the best possible hand given the current face-up cards) may raise, both to induce drawing hands that may improve to the 'nut hand' to fold, while also testing to see if another player has the 'nuts'.
To drive out better hands when a drawing hand bets: If an opponent with an apparent drawing hand has bet before the player to act, if the player raises, opponents behind them who may have a better hand may fold rather than call two bets 'cold'. This is a form of isolation play, and has elements of blocking and protection. Reasons to call [ edit ]
There are several reasons for calling a bet or raise, summarized below.
To see more cards: With a drawing hand, a player may be receiving the correct pot odds with the call to see more cards.
To limit loss in equity: Calling may be appropriate when a player has adequate pot odds to call but will lose equity on additional money contributed to the pot with a raise.
To avoid a re-raise: Only calling (and not raising) denies the original bettor the option of re-raising. However, this is only completely safe in case the player is last to act (i.e. 'closing the action').
To conceal the strength of a player's hand: If a player has a very strong hand, they might smooth call on an early betting round to avoid giving away the strength of their hand on the hope of getting more money into the pot in later betting rounds.
To manipulate pot odds: By calling (not raising), a player offers any opponents yet to act behind them more favorable pot odds to also call. For example, if a player has a very strong hand, a smooth call may encourage opponents behind them to overcall or even raise, building the pot. Particularly in limit games, building the pot in an earlier betting round may induce opponents to call future bets in later betting rounds because of the pot odds they will be receiving.
To set up a bluff on a later betting round: Sometimes referred to as a long-ball bluff , calling on an earlier betting round can set up a bluff (or semi-bluff) on a later betting round. For instance, a player with a strong initial hand may call instead of raise to see the flop cheaply. That flop may not benefit the player, but the player may still have many 'outs' (cards left to deal that could make a strong hand), or even if the odds are slim they can try to bluff. By raising, this scenario may appear to an opponent like a player who has 'limped in' with a weak initial hand, but after the flop now has a strong made or drawing hand. A recent online term for 'long-ball bluffing' is floating. [3] Gap concept [ edit ]
The gap concept states that a player needs a better hand to play against someone who has already opened (or raised) the betting than he would need to open himself. [4] The gap concept reflects that players prefer to avoid confrontations with other players who have already indicated strength, and that calling only has one way to win (by having the best hand), whereas opening may also win immediately if your opponent(s) fold. Sandwich effect [ edit ]
Related to the gap effect, the sandwich effect states that a player needs a stronger hand to stay in a pot when there are opponents yet to act behind him. [3] Because the player does not know how many opponents will be involved in the pot or whether he will have to call a re-raise, he does not know what his effective pot odds actually are. Therefore, a stronger hand is desired as compensation for this uncertainty. A squeeze play exploits this principle. Loose/tight play [ edit ]
Loose players play relatively more hands and tend to continue with weaker hands; hence they do not often fold. Tight players play relatively fewer hands and tend not to continue with weaker hands; hence they often fold. The following concepts are applicable in loose games (and their inverse in tight games): [1]
Bluffs and semi-bluffs are less effective because loose opponents are less likely to fold.
Requirements for continuing with made hands may be lower because loose players may also be playing lower value hands.
Drawing to incomplete hands, like flushes, tends to be more valuable as draws will often get favorable pot odds and a stronger hand (rather than merely one pair) is often required to win in multi-way pots. Aggressive/passive play [ edit ] Win The Button Poker Strategy Tactics
Aggressive play refers to betting and raising. Passive play refers to checking and calling. Unless passive play is being used deceptively as mentioned above, aggressive play is generally considered stronger than passive play because of the bluff value of bets and raises and because it offers more opportunities for your opponents to make mistakes. [1] Hand reading, tells and leveling [ edit ]
Hand reading is the process of making educated guesses about the possible cards an opponent may hold, based on the sequence of actions in the pot. The term 'hand reading' is actually a misnomer, as skilled players do not attempt to assign a player to an exact hand. Rather they attempt to narrow the possibilities down to a range of probable hands based on the past actions of their opponent, during both the current hand and previous hands played by this opponent.
Tells are detectable changes in opponents' behavior or demeanor which provide clues about their hands or their intentions. Educated guesses about opponents' cards and intentions can help a player avoid mistakes in his own play, induce mistakes by the opponents, or influence the opponents to take actions that they would not normally take under the circumstances. For example, a tell might suggest that an opponent has missed a draw, so a player seeing it may decide a bluff would be more effective than usual. Win The Button Poker Strategy Against
Leveling or multiple level thinking is accounting for what the other opponents think about the hands. This information can then be used to the player's advantage. Some players might be able to make educated guesses about opponents' hands; this could be seen as the first level. The second level could be thought of as the combination of the first level and deducing what the opponents think the player's hand may be. Skilled players can adjust their game play to be on a higher level than that of less skilled opponents. Table image and opponent profiling [ edit ]
By observing the tendencies and patterns of one's opponents, one can make more educated guesses about others' potential holdings. For example, if a player has been playing extremely tightly (playing very few hands), then when he/she finally enters a pot, one may surmise that he/she has stronger than average cards. One's table image is the perception by one's opponents of one's own pattern of play. A player can leverage their table image by playing out of character, and thereby inducing his/her opponents to misjudge his/her hand and make a mistake.
In live poker, as opposed to internet, stereotypes are often used for initial 'reads'. For instance, people of retirement age are often witnessed to play tight. Players will often project this image on unknown people of retirement age. Young people wearing headphones and hoodies are often witnessed to play more aggressively and mathematically if they played a lot of winning internet poker. These stereotypes can often be good bases to start a profile.
Often, there is a rather small pool of players in a given card playing venue. People will carry their history of playing with them in these environments.
Internet poker players can use large databases of hand histories to get a more precise player profile. Statistical information about opponents is displayed on the tables in the form of a heads up display. The most commonly used software is PokerTracker and Hold'em Manager. Equity [ edit ]
Players' equity in a pot is their expected share of the pot, expressed either as a percentage (probability of winning) or expected value (amount of pot * probability of winning). Negative equity , or loss in equity , occurs when contributing to a pot with a probability of winning less than 1 / (number of opponents matching the contribution+1). Example Alice contributes $12 to a pot and is matched by two other opponents. Alice's $12 contribution 'bought' the chance to win $36. If Alice's probability of winning is 50, her equity in the $36 pot is $18 (a gain in equity because her $12 is now 'worth' $18). If her probability of winning is only 10, Alice loses equity because her $12 is now only 'worth' $3.60 (amount of pot * probability of winning). Texas hold 'em example Alice holds J 8 . Bob holds K 7 . After the flop, the board is 567 . If both hands are played to a showdown, Alice has a 45 chance to win (which she is unaware of, because she does not know what hand Bob holds), Bob has a 53 chance to win and there is a 2 chance to split the pot. The pot currently has $51. Alice goes all-in for $45 reasoning that she can take the pot immediately if Bob folds or that Bob calls with a worse hand. Bob's simple pot odds for the call are also 32; since his equity of 53 is greater than the pot odds he has to call, Bob has a positive expected value for the call (if he knew Alice's hole cards). Short-handed considerations [ edit ]
When playing short-handed (at a table with 3-6 players), players must loosen up their play (play more hands) for several reasons: [1]
There is less likelihood of another player having a strong hand because there are fewer players.
Each player's share of the forced bets increases because there are fewer players contributing to the forced bets, thus waiting for premium hands becomes more expensive.
This type of situation comes up most often in tournament style play. In a cash game, the adjustments are very similar, but not quite as drastic as the table can ask for what is known as a 'rake break.' A rake break occurs when the floor-man, who represents the casino, agrees to take a smaller portion than usual for the hand. For example, a random casino might normally receive 10 of the pot up to 5 dollars for a 'rake.' In this case the table would only owe 10 up to 3 dollars until there are a sufficient number of players again. In online poker rake breaks are determined automatically. Structure considerations [ edit ]
The blinds and antes and limit structure of the game have a significant influence on poker strategy. For example, it is easier to manipulate pot odds in no-limit and pot-limit games than in limit games. In tournaments, as the size of the forced bets relative to the chip stacks grows, pressure is placed on players to play pots to avoid being anted/blinded away. [5] Mindset considerations [ edit ]
In 2014, Bwin conducted a study to see what makes a professional poker player. The brain activity of poker players, of varying degrees, was monitored using EEG headsets and visualised into brain maps. [6] Leading sports psychologist, James Hazlett, then interpreted the findings:
More experienced players showed higher levels of focus and concentration throughout the game.
The amateur players had less control over their emotions, and were prone to allowing negative emotions, such as frustration, distract them.
Whilst opponents were taking their turn, the expert players opened up another table or watched replays of hands they had played poorly to improve.
The brain maps showed that the professional players were led more by logic and intuition.
The conclusions of the study suggest that poker players can improve their strategy by considering their mindset. Mental training techniques, commonly used by athletes, could therefore help to improve performance by working on elements such as self-control and concentration. See also [ edit ] Poker plays [ edit ] Specific games [ edit ] Notes [ edit ]
a b c d e f David Sklansky (1987). The Theory of Poker . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-00-0 .
Milovsky, Nicholas. 'The Basics of Game Theory and Associated Games' . Retrieved 11 February 2014 .
a b Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie (2004). Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy For No-Limit Tournaments; Volume I: Strategic Play . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-33-7 .
David Sklansky (2001). Tournament Poker for Advanced Players . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-28-0 .
Dan Harrington and Bill Robertie (2005). Harrington on Hold'em: Expert Strategy For No-Limit Tournaments; Volume II: The Endgame . Two Plus Two Publications. ISBN 1-880685-35-3 .
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