Playing High Cards in Omaha Hi-Lo

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Like any split-pot poker game, the object of playing Omaha Hi-Lo poker is to scoop pots. This means that you should primarily play hands that work well both ways. However, there are times where playing hands with high cards only can be profitable. Below is a few reasons that playing only high cards may prove to be the right play.

Multi-way Pots

Pots where there are three or more other players is a great spot where high cards could work well. When four or more hands are in play, there is a high chance that numerous low cards are in other player’s hands.

If you do play a multi-way pot with high cards, you want to have a hand no worse than a pair and three straight cards. Hands that contain two or more 7’s, 8’s, and 9’s are trap hands as they generally only produce middling straights that seldom can play both ways. Nines can work if they are a part of a Q-J-10-9 wrap or similar.

You will be able to quickly determine where you’re at in the hand after the flop. The players who are looking for low scoopers will generally slow down their play.

High Flopping Boards

In order to make a low hand, there must be at least one low card on the flop. If the board flops cards all nine or higher, there cannot be a low. In this case, having a high hand will put you in good shape as you probably just connected in a meaningful way.

Unlike a multi-way pot, if you choose to play high cards in a hand with just one or two opponents, you want to stay away from calling too many raises pre-flop as you are not guaranteed to have a scoop worthy hand.

Pots Against Tight Players

A great spot to play high hands is in a game with primarily rocky or solid players. These players will be coming in with two-way hands and some will not even play a hand unless they have an A-2 in their hand.

As such, you can sometimes play a high hand against them for a profit. Even if you do not connect with the board in a meaningful way, you may even be able to steal a pot from them if the board flops high.

Best Positions to Play High Hands

When you’re looking to play a high card hand, you want to consider your position. If you’re in late position without a raise, then you can take a flyer on the hand and hope the blinds don’t wake up with a raising hand.

Speaking of the blinds, these are also great spots to play high hands. If you’re in the big blind and nobody raises, you don’t have to commit any additional money. In the small blind, you only have to match the big blind. Unless action folds around to you, you will have the odds to match the big blind.

Low Flops = GET OUT

Remember that in all of the situations above, if the board flops low, you need to get out of the hand unless you happen to flop the nuts at the time. (Such as if you have A-K-Q-J with a suited ace and the low cards make you a flush.)

Don’t overvalue a big pair, even aces, when the board flops low. Often, a single big pair will be outdrawn by two baby pair or a low straight or flush. You’ll have to get very lucky on the turn and river to probably do no worse than chop the pot.

Remember that when playing high hands, you are playing a one-way hand that can only scoop if a low doesn’t come. When the low doesn’t come, you will find playing high cards can be very profitable in Omaha Hi-Lo.