Low Hand
An ace can be used as either high or low. A flush or straight is ignored when making a low hand. Therefore the lowest hand is A 2 3 4 5. This hand is also called a “wheel. If two players have the same hand they will split the low half of the pot. This is not uncommon because many players will play any hand that consists of an Ace-deuce. When two players split the low we refer to it as getting “Quartered” as you only win a quarter of the pot.
Scooping the Pot
Since you have four cards in your hand you can use any combination of two for the high hand and low hand. You may use two cards for high and two different cards for low. The ideal situation in Omaha is to have a hand that will win both the high hand and the low hand. The other way to win the whole pot is to have the highest hand and have no low hand possible.
Counterfeited
If you have an Ace and a deuce in you hand and there is an Ace or deuce on the board, you hand is counterfeited if there are not four low cards. Since you must use two cards from your hand you will need to have three different low cards on the board or your hand will not count as low.
Example:
You have A-2
The board is:
2 4 5 J Q
You make can’t a low hand because the 2 is paired.
A Wild Game
Omaha Hi/Lo can be a very wild game. You will get players raising when they have a high hand and players raising when they have a low hand. It leads to some big pots and makes it a very exciting game.
Some players think that they can play more hands because they are getting four starting cards. The opposite is true. In Omaha you have to be even more selective about your starting hands.
Until Next time remember:
Luck comes and goes.....Knowledge Stays Forever.