Omaha Hi Lo Poker (8s or better) - Starting holdings

Experience is probably the best teacher of how to pull all the elements together to form a sensible strategy for when to see the flop in Omaha.

In time you’ll get a feeling for which hands tend to be winners more often than 14.3 percent of the time (the average winning percentage in a seven handed game) and which hands will prove to be winners substantially less than average. But no holdings are so poor that they win less than 8% of the time if held to the showdown.

Starting strategy depends of course, on more than your holdings. As in Holdem, it needs to take into account such factors as position, the size of bets and raises, and the betting patterns of the game, and it will be different in limit and in pot-limit Poker. It is not, however, as sensitive to these factors as Holdem.

Below is a list of sample hands. They range from good to fair and give an insight into what makes a good starting holding.

C = Clubs, D = Diamonds, H = hearts, S = spades

K of C, Q of D, J of D, 10 of C

This hand not only has most of the high straight possibilities, nut is double suited and has powerful high cards.

A of S, A of H, K of S, K of H

Another power-hand with two top flush draws and two high pairs.

A of H, K of C, Q of D, 8 of C

The straight cards combine with the high clubs to make this a strong hand.

A of H, Q of D, Q of C, 8 of D

Three different working couples make this an above average winner. But it is weaker than the previous holdings because of its shortage of straight opportunities.

10 of H, 9 of S, 8 of D, 7 of C

Even without any flush draw, its many possible straights make this a good holding.

Q of C, 9 of H, 8 of C, 6of S

Five of the six couples work together, but there is gaps, and if the Queen high flush appears, it may be vulnerable.

J of H, J of S, 8 of S, 7 of H

An average holding made better by being double suited. It becomes a power hand only if a 9 and 10 are flopped.

A of C, 5 of C, 4 of C, 4 of D

The major merit s the ace high clubs, but the third club weakens this holding. The low pair is vulnerable even if a four shows on the flop. The low cards provide a possible out to a low straight.

5 of S, 5 of C, 4 of C, 4 of H

Two low pairs are unlikely to lead to a full house, and a low straight is likely to end up second best even if it occurs.

K of S, K of D, 6 of C, 3 of C

This hand has virtually no outs if the widow does not produce a king. One good couple is rarely enough.

K of S, 9 of H, 6 of D, 4 of C

This holding has no value. Even if the flop has two ideal cards, it is still a drawing hand with no outs.

6 of S, 6 of H, 6 of D, J of D

Even a six in the widow will not help without an under pair, or a pair of jacks.