Many new players to the game of Omaha Eight or Better over-value their starting hands that contain four high ranking cards (i.e. QcQsTdTh). The incorrect betting and decision making concerning these hands often comes from Holdem poker playing patterns, where high card hands are more frequently rewarded. Most players would benefit by a logical analysis of the reduced high card potential that comes along with correct split poker game strategy.

A specific mistake routinely made by poor Omaha 8/b players is to raise too often before the flop with hands containing big pairs. A hand similar to KdKhJdJs prefers to play on cheaply and hopes to hit a set on a flop containing no or few low cards. The main trouble with hands of this type is that even when they do flop a set, they rarely remain the nut possible hand if the action goes to the turn and river. If two low cards flop and the board is looking something like : Jh , 3s , 5s then there are many scary turn cards for your hand in any type of multi-way action and then the river must be contended with as well.

This notion carries into the principle that high card hands do better in short-handed pots rather than multi-way pots. Short handed pots don't necessarily always go to the river, plus fewer players drawing to hands like lows, straights and flushes means big cards that flop well will tend to hold up more often. While inexeperienced Holdem players tend to raise to 'thin the field' most regular Omaha players realize quickly that this strategy does not have the same effect in their game and that it is preferable to let the short handed pots develop naturally.

The reasoning used for our desire to face few opponents with high cards does not carry through all the way to heads-up play. The correct betting strategy when you are holding high cards and you are facing a single opponent depends on many factors however the conventions of the game itself show that more flops than not will contain fearful low cards that seem to threaten the strength of your hand. While simulations show that the high cards are usually the favorite heads-up over low cards, not being able to use a threatening looking board to your advantage really hinders your ability to successfully bluff and semi-bluff or catch your opponents in the act.

Almost every text on Omaha 8/b will encourage players to either draw to the nut hand or have the nuts already in order to avoid costly second best scenarios. As a consequence to this correct advice that is followed to some degree by anyone playing the game for a short while, big pots tend to develop mostly when players have nut low hands already locked up. This reminds us of the poker logic to be wary of any hands that are relegated to winning small pots and losing big ones. Our advice is that cheap and careful is the optimul strategy for high hands in Omaha 8/b.

Return to Poker Strategy Articles