Omaha 8OB is one of my favorite games to play. This game is fun for any action junky. It can be a difficult game to master. Alot of people forgot about the low and only concentrate on the high. But know this, if you are going to chase after the low hand, you better make sure you have the goods because you could lose alot of money if you don't.

If you are going to play this game and you are a novice, below is a list of good starting hands for you to play. I got this list from a book called, Play Poker like the Pros. Phill Hellmuth wrote it and advises that you only play these hands. If you stick with these hands and read the board correctly, you should be a successful Hi/Lo player.

Omaha 8OB Starting Hands:

Premium Hands:
1. A-A-2-3
2. A-A-2-X
3. A-A-3-X
4. A-2-3-4
5. A-2-3-X
6. A-2-K-K, A-2-Q-Q
7. A-3-4-5
8. A-A-4-5, A-A-X-X
9. A-2-Q-K, A-2-K-J, A-2-X-X
10. A-3-K-K

Strong Hands:
11. A-3-4-X
12. 2-3-4-5
13. J-Q-K-A
14. T-J-Q-K
15. J-Q-K-K
16. 9-T-J-Q
17. 2-3-4-X
18. Any four cards between a Ten and an Ace.

Note: X represents any card.


Pot Limit Omaha has a totally different set of starting hands since you're only going for the high in this game. Four cards in a row is a good starting hand but you must remember to be more selective in PLO than you are in Omaha 8OB. In Phil's book, he recommends that you play the following hands. Also, when playing both Omaha games, it is best to discard any hands where you have 3 same suited cards. This is a bad starting hand because you're reducing your flush possibilities.

Best Starting PLO hands:

1. A-A-K-K double suited
2. A-A-J-T double suited
3. A-A-Q-Q double suited
4. A-A-J-J double suited
5. A-A-T-T double suited
6. A-A-9-9 double suited
7. A-A-X-X (X=any card)
8. 8-9-T-J double suited
9. K-K-Q-Q preferably suited
10. K-K-J-J preferably suited
11. K-Q-J-T double suited
12. K-K-T-T double suited
13. K-K-A-Q preferably suited
14. K-K-A-J preferably suited
15. K-K-A-T preferably suited
16. K-K-Q-J preferably suited
17. K-K-Q-T preferably suited
18. K-K-J-T preferably suited
19. Q-Q-T-T preferably suited
20. Q-Q-A-K preferably suited
21. Q-Q-A-J preferably suited
22. Q-Q-A-T preferably suited
23. Q-Q-K-J preferably suited
24. Q-Q-K-T preferably suited
25. Q-Q-J-T preferably suited
26. Q-Q-J-9 preferably suited