Paired Board Omaha8 Flops

Paired flops are notoriously dangerous and can be difficult to deal with in a multiway pot.

Example

Hole Cards : K-5-3-3
Flop : 6-6-3

You have flopped a full house with no claim to the low draw. It is a dangerous ploy to push this hand. Although a full house, it is a weak one. The chances are, at least someone is holding a 6, giving them plenty of draws for a full house. If they are chasing the low too, you will not push them off the hand. Players who are chasing the low with an eye on the straight will stay in the pot. The only dangerous hands you can push out are players with a higher pair.

You hand has 2nd best written all over it and with low claim to the low hand, I would suggest playing it with extreme caution. Don't get involved in a betting war because its one you will likely lose.

You want to have the commanding hand when it comes to a paired board. A low ended full house can be like a low ended straight in some circumstances. Often it is worthy of a fold if you don't have a tight claim on the low hand also.

You would be amazed at how many players see their hand through just because they have a full house. They know in their hearts they are beat but that full house just looks too good to drop. I can feel a Kenny Rodgers song coming on.

In a situation where everyone has a hand, the betting can go a bit wild and you don't want to be involved when holding marginal hands.

Playing flush draws with claims to the low hand can be hazardous.

Example

Hole Cards : A-5-6-K (A high Club suited)
Flop : 6-4-4 (Club suited)

In this situation, If there has been action before the flop then you are probably behind for the low pot. With the pair on board, you will have no great confidence of winning the high even if your flush does materialize.

The golden rule of Omaha Hi/low is don't get caught with the 2nd best hand.

In a multiway pot, consider discarding your hand, you may already be drawing dead. The last thing you need, is to get lured into drawing for a 2nd best hand. An obvious enticement would be to catch the 2 clubs. With a low paired flop there is a good chance someone had landed the full house, killing off your high hand opportunities. There is a good chance someone is holding the nut low, so the only saving card you could get is a 3, for a share of the low.

In Omaha Hi/Low, most of the time, the key cards are live in a multiway pot. Omaha8 is a truer game than holdem in that it is more likely a nuts hand will come into play. Having 4 cards to play from ensures this. You will get bluffing opportunities, but that comes from understanding your table position and the styles of players around you. To fully understand Omaha8, you really need to practice at the tables. Watch how the flops unfold. Look at the strength of the winning hands,etc. After a while you will start to get a feel for the game and the information I am presenting you will fall into place.

 

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