The starting hands part of a Limit Omaha Hi Lo game is a significant one, as it is important for a player to know which hands are playable.

Starting Hands at Limit Hi Lo …

Players of limit Omaha Hi Lo should keep in mind that the objective of this game is to scoop the whole pot. Starting hands should be studied carefully and only suitable hands should be played. Patience is the name of this game and a player needs to study options at the beginning in the possible cards to decide when to start betting.

A player should bear in mind that a hand may be worth much more when there is a chance of winning both the high and the low hands.

Starting Off with the Best Starting Hands

The best type of starting hand is an ace suited with at least one other card together with low suited cards. This provides a good possibility of being able to win both the high and the low hand and therefore scooping the pot.

Good hands

These are starting hands that show some promise but do not quite make it into the premium starting hand category. Good examples for this section are low cards together with an ace or double suited kings or queens. Such hands still have the potential to win both high and low hands.

Starting hands without an ace

Some limit Omaha hi lo players would recommend not even considering to play a starting hand that does not contain an ace. This is one way of looking at the game and certainly an easy rule to keep to, especially for beginners. However, one possible playable hand without an ace could be a 2, 3, 4 and 5 which still leaves an option for the low and for a straight. The safer way to play would be not to play without an ace.

Hands to avoid playing as a starting hand …

Playing an average or secondary best hand is perhaps a dangerous way to start off and should be treated with great caution. Hands that leave little chance of success at the high hand should probably be avoided.

Double suited hands do not leave much chance of a win and it is therefore not worthwhile trying with such a hand.

A three of a kind does not usually work in Omaha Hi Lo – unless it contains Aces.

Two pairs without a connection such as two eights and two threes – this does not present much real hope and should not be played.

Players need to be wary of trap hands which are hands that appear to be promising but in effect will just trap the player into making additional bets. Such hands could be two suited cards or a pair.

Patience is an important element in the limit Omaha Hi Lo game. It is wise to consider starting hands carefully and the best advice is probably to start off by playing only the playable hands.