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Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced Strategy

April 27, 2009

This Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced Strategy is meant for highly experienced poker players seeking to further their Omaha Hi-Lo skills and win percentage. We have developed a complete Omaha Hi-Lo Strategy Guide to assist players of all experience levels. There many aspects to an Omaha Hi-Lo Strategy, so we highly recommend applying each level one at a time in order to avoid the overwhelming nature of an all-encompassing poker strategy.

If you have not read our previous strategy articles, you can find them below:

Omaha Hi-Lo Beginner Strategy
Omaha Hi-Lo Intermediate Strategy

In these previous segments, we discussed the importance of patience and discipline, a strict Starting Hand selection and how starting at the lowest stakes can save an inexperienced player a lot of money on the felt. We also spoke about the value of knowing the Nuts – High and Low Hand – proper Sequence Betting and knowing how/when to raise the the stakes of your cash games.

In this final installment to the Omaha Hi-Lo Strategy Guide, we will reveal the key elements of an advanced Omaha Hi-Lo strategy. These include appropriate Bluffing and Semi-Bluffing techniques, reading your opponents, and keeping yourself under the radar.

Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced Strategy – Bluffing

Bluffing is a classic poker strategy used by just about every poker player in the world. The difference between an experienced and inexperienced bluffer is the timing and frequency of bluffing. For starters, you never want to bluff too often. Once you are labeled a bluffer, your chances of pulling off another successful bluff at the table are slim to none. Secondly, timing is everything!

The best time to Bluff is Pre-Flop from late position (On the Button, Small Blind or Big Blind) when no other player before you has shown certainty in their holdings. This means all previous bettors have either folded their hand or are simply limping in (calling the Blind). Place a moderate to large Raise, and each opponent should fold, proffering the Blinds and any limped calls to your stack.

Another good time to Bluff is after the Flop/Turn/River, when a scare card hits the board. A scare card is generally an Ace, King, or the third same-suit card to fall. Again, this is best done from late position when no other player is attacking the pot. It is a very good idea to be able to read your opponents (see “Reading your Opponents” below), giving you a more precise prediction of how each player will react to a bluff at any given time.

Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced Strategy – Semi-Bluffing

Semi-Bluff is pretty much the same as a Bluff, except that you should actually have a decent hand to fall back on. For instance, top Pair is not the strongest hand in the book, but it wins often enough to be a valid betting hand. Using the same techniques as above, the Semi-bluff can be a very effective way of scaring others away from a pot.

Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced Strategy – Reading your Opponents

This is one of the most proven poker strategies of all time. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as reading a manual and suddenly being able to read your opponents, predicting their every move. Reading your opponents takes time and practice. However, once you become accustomed to the consistent behavior of different player types, it can become second nature.

You are looking for patterned behavior, such as betting high from every late position opportunity. This points to a bluffer. You should call them out and see how they react. Some players are tight, meaning they fold around 905 of their starting hands. These players require a strong hand to go up against, because they only stay in a hand when they have a great starter, or a monster after the Flop.

Loose players are also easily recognized as they love to see the Flop. If it helps them, they’ll stay in, even with a moderate Draw hand. If it does nothing for them, they still may stay in if it’s cheap enough to do so. These are the easiest players to siphon chips from, but you must be careful. As a loose player, they will often get lucky on Draw Hands. You’ll have to play a tight game against them to wipe them out.

Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced Strategy – Staying Under the Radar

Staying under the radar refers to a reverse of the last section; reading your opponents. Just as you are reading them, you can be certain they are trying to read you. Don’t let this happen. Be unpredictable, changing up your playing style on a regular basis. Don’t always bluff in late position. Don’t play a consistently tight or loose game. If you can keep them guessing, you’ll take the upper hand every time.

Omaha Hi-Lo Advanced Strategy – Conclusion

This is the final installment of our Omaha Hi-Lo Strategy guide. There simply isn’t much more we can teach you about winning Omaha Hi-Lo. Everything else is instinctual. Good luck on the felt!

If you’d like to read over any of our other Omaha Hi-Lo pages, please feel free to browse the links below:

Omaha Hi-Lo Rules & Starting Hands
Omaha Hi-Lo Beginner Strategy
Omaha Hi-Lo Intermediate Strategy

Written by Rob · Filed Under HORSE Poker Strategy 

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