Omaha/8 limit is perhaps less popular on the internet although it remains a staple of many American casinos and if you can develop your skills at this version of the game, you will find plenty of juicy games where you can make good money.
Additionally it is a component of the increasingly popular H.O.R.S.E. Game and there are several WSOP events where a skilled Omaha/8 exponent can win bracelets.
Here’s a rundown of some of the techniques that can make you a winning Omaha/8 limit player.
Tight is Right
It doesn’t sound like much fun, but one of the most important practices you need to make a keystone of your limit Omaha/8 game is to exercise strict control over the kind of hands you enter pots with.
Post-flop, you will find pot odds drag you into calling with many hands and by playing a strong set of starting hands you will be in position to win many more pots than looser opponents. The kinds of hands you play should have good “scoop” potential as putting in a load of bets regularly just to pick up half the pot is not the recipe for success.
A 2 xx is always playable as is A 3s xx in most circumstances (though beware if the action gets too hot in front of you as it is very likely there are 1-2 ace-deuce hands out there, making it difficult for you to make a hand).
If you have other “low-co-ordinated” hands, for example 2s 3c 4h 5d, these hands also have potential, although they are better played from late position than early position.
Hands like A4sxx and 23sxx are the real hands you need to watch out for and generally muck, especially when learning how to play. They are tempting to play but with these sorts of hands, you will often make second best low hands and be beguiled into calling by the good price the pot is offering you. Too often though you will discover your opponent has you pipped and because of this you should get rid of these hands sooner rather than later.
High Hands
“High-only” hands are of limited value in high-low. The only time you should be playing these is when the pot is multiway and your hand is co-ordinated. An example of this would be if there are 3 limpers, you are on the button with KcKsQcJs. This co-ordinated hand is now playable, although you will need a favourable flop to continue.
A A xx is a good hand, although it plays MUCH better if it is heads up, and if one of those x’s is a wheel card. Look to isolate this hand by 3-betting an opening raiser, however if the action goes raise, call, call in front of you, you might not want to 3-bet here as you will bloat the pot with little chance of isolating a player. In these multiway situations, post-flop, be prepared to throw away your aces with no low back up on unfavourable boards. (eg AA4K on a 4 7 2 board.)
Extracting Maximum Value
Note that you want to isolate by 3 betting with hands like A A 7-x but when you have a hand like As2s3c4h, you do not want to isolate these hands as they have massive draw potential and you want the maximum number of opponents in against these sorts of hands to pay you off when you flop a monster.
With this sort of draw heavy low hand, just flat call a raise from an opponent to encourage action behind. If it is then 3 bet by another player and there is a call, you can 4-bet and get more money into the pot, with a high degree of certainty you will be called in several spots, building the pot with a hand that has high expectation.
In early position, usually it’s best to limp in with most of your range, encouraging action behind from weaker hands. In late position, you are better placed to put in a raise with your strong set of starting hands, charging any limpers an extra bet to play with their generally weaker sets of hands and building up the pot with your superior hand.
Post-flop Play
Post-flop, be prepared to make tough decisions and throw away plenty of hands where an unfavourable flop counterfeits your hand.
If you flop well, for instance Ah 3h on a 2h Ks 4h board, you have a very strong draw here and should work to encourage the maximum amount of money into the pot. Don’t drive off potential customers by necessarily raising though.
Look to keep the maximum number of customers in the hand whilst getting as many bets in as possible. If there is a bet and call in front of you, of course you can raise here. If there is a single bet and there are players behind, you might want to just call so they can make calls with inferior flush and inferior low draws. If there is then a raise behind and the initial bettor calls, now you can re-raise and drive more money into the pot whilst your equity is high.
Pot odds will often colour your judgement of how to proceed. If you are chasing a draw, consider the price the pot is laying you compared to your chances of making your hand.
There’s no substitute for experience so take these pointers and apply them to your play. It takes discipline and patience to become a proficient Omaha/8 limit player but once you start to master the skills, you will discover it is a rich, rewarding game and there is plenty of profit to be made.