In Limit Omaha 8/b, as few as 2 (heads up) or as many as 10 players can play at a table. Here are the basic rules:
**In each game, the first person to the left of the dealer has to post the "small blind". This is 1/2 the small bet. The person to the left of the small blind has to post the "big blind", or 1 small bet.
**Each player will be dealt 4 cards face down (the "hole cards"). Play begins with the player immediately to the left of the big blind, who may fold, call, or raise by one small bet. Play continues around the table, and does not stop until every player who is still in the hand has placed the same amount of money into the pot.
**Three community cards are then dealt face up. These cards may be used by everyone at the table. This is called the "flop". Players may then check (if no one has bet so far), call (if there is a bet to be called), bet/raise one small bet, or fold. When everyone who is still in the hand has placed the same amount of money into the pot, the next community card is dealt face up.
**The fourth community card is called the turn. Another round of betting takes place. From this point on, only big bets are used. For example, if you are playing $5/10 Limit Omaha 8/b, you are making bets $10 at a time.
**The fifth community card is called the river. After the final round of betting takes place, players still in the hand reveal their hole cards, and the pot is split between the players who can form the best 5-card high hand and best qualifying 5-card low hand. Players must use
exactly 2 of their hole cards to form their high hand, and
exactly 2 of their hole cards to form their low hand (although they do not need to be the same).
**A qualifying low hand is any hand which is 8-low or better. Aces can count as low, and straights and flushes do not count against the low, so the best low hand is 5342A, also known as the "wheel".
OK everyone, here's your basic strategy:
- **TIGHT IS RIGHT. It might be a little boring, but it will win you the most chips, and lose you the fewest. A starting Omaha hand is the equivalent of 6 Texas Hold'em hands - if you hold a hand such as AcKdQcTd, you hold the following card combination possibilities:
This means hands such as top pair top kicker, which are somewhat strong in Hold'em, are very weak hands in Omaha 8/b. Full handed, anything short of top set is just asking for trouble. Look for starting hand combinations that will either give you a very good chance at hitting the high hand (4 cards, 9 or higher, and connected), as well as hands that will give you a good chance to "scoop" the pot, or win both the high and low ends.
- **BE AGGRESSIVE. You want to get every chip possible when you do hold the best hand. The only way you can do this (with some exceptions) is by betting out with your strong hands. If you don't bet out, 1 of 2 things can happen:
- You don't gain every chip possible
- You allow your opponent to cheaply draw out on you. This is particularly true in Omaha 8/b, as it is a game of draws. You may hold the nuts on the flop, but be a statistical underdog to win the hand! In addition, by checking you are allowing players to cheaply draw to a low hand, which may half your winnings.
- **BE WILLING TO LET GO OF YOUR HAND. You want to get every chip in as possible when you are ahead, but don't be afraid of folding once a stronger draw comes out on the draw. For example, let's say you hold AhKsQhTs on a 9cJc8d board. You hold the nut straight, and 2-bet. There is one caller, and the turn is the 2c. If your opponent bets out, you should seriously consider folding. He could very easily have the flush here, and you can't re-draw to a stronger hand - a straight is the best you can hold. Save yourself chips, and fold.
- **USE POSITION TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. When you are in late position (i.e., one of the last to acts in the hand), you can afford to play more hands - as you will know how your opponents have acted. This means if you sense weakness in them (checks or very weak bets), you can bet/raise them, and they will probably fold. When you are in early position (one of the blinds or close to them), you can't afford to play as many hands, as there are more potential players who could raise you, and force you to fold a mediocre hand.
- **DON'T CHASE EXPENSIVE LOW DRAWS. There are a couple reasons for this -
- You may not hit it.
- It generally takes the nut low to win.
- Even if you do hit the nut low, someone else will probably hold it too. This will result in you getting "quartered", you will only win 1/4 of the pot (unless you also win the high hand). You may get particularly unlucky, and tie with 2 other players - that would result in you winning only 1/6 the pot!
