"Deciding whether to continue past the flop is one of your most important decisions in low-limit Omaha Hi-Lo. Making weak draws based on emotions rather than pot odds, holding onto a hand that was a beauty going in but turned into a beast after the flop—these are costly errors. Instead, base your decisions on sound reasoning."

"Mental preparation for playing the flop is imperative in Omaha Hi-Lo. In conjunction with your decision to enter the hand, you should always ask yourself, "What do I hope to make with this hand?" Also, determine what you are looking for on the flop. Ask, "Which three cards will make my hand on the flop?"

What is the ideal flop for my hand?
In other words, picture your ideal flop. For example, if you are holding A34K, you say to yourself, "I'm looking for a deuce and five of spades on the flop." This is the ideal flop for your hand.

Or if you are holding AK KJ, your ideal flop is two or three diamonds, a 10 or a Q, a J with (ideally) no over-cards, an ace, or (bingo!) QJ10, giving you a made straight, with trips and the nut (even royal) flush draw.

What is the ideal hand for this flop?
A question to ask in deciding how to proceed on the flop is, "what kind of hand would be ideal for this flop? Do I hold it?" And, "Is there a player in the hand who almost always enters pots with the four cards that would best fit this flop? Who is it?"

When the dealer turns the first three cards, revealing 77 percent of the cards available (including the four that you hold), you are faced with the most important decision you will make; hold'em or fold'em. You read'em, and weep—or, hopefully, read'em and reap.

Having completed your mental preparation, you can greatly enhance your chances of profitably playing the flop by asking the following questions. Correct answers will lead to a quality decision.

(1) Does my hand fit the flop? There are six types of flops in Omaha Hi-Lo:

• Low—2-3 cards 8 and below

• High—2-3 cards 9 and above

• Flush—2-3 cards of the same suit

• Straight—2-3 cards in sequence

• Paired—2 cards of the same rank

• Decco--3 unrelated cards

If you hold a low hand and the flop comes with two or three new low cards, you are in good position to capture the low end of the pot, especially if you have a wheel draw (which may win it all). When the flop contains two or three high cards, and you have a high hand which matches them, be ready to play your hand aggressively.

When the flop has two or three unsuited cards that give you 8-to-16 outs to make the nut straight, you are in good position. But beware! It is not unusual for the board to present two running flush cards on 4th and 5th streets, thus voiding the value of your straight. For this reason, some expert players do not play this hand fast unless they also have a back-up flush draw. (But heads up, fire away!)

Smart opponents will not drive a medium-high nut straight until the river. In fact, they will fold it on the flop if they believe that it has a negative expectation of holing up on the river. For example:

If your hand is: KK89

And The Flop: 107 6

What is Your Best Move?
Even with his made 10-high straight, not only will an expert player not bet it fast, but he will even play it cautiously. Why? Because there are virtually no safe cards remaining: another heart makes a flush for someone else; a nine makes a jack-high straight. You would need two running cards—a king plus a board pair—to make the nuts. (And then hope no one makes quad 10s when the board pairs!)

When you hold cards that will make the nut or second-nut-flush, and the flop comes with two or three of your suit, again you are in position to drive. However, be cautious in pushing a second-nut flush. The number of king-high flushes beaten by ace-high flushes seems to be astronomical in Omaha Hi-Lo. The 'probe bet' may be your best alternative with second-nut flush in a front position.

Fit or Fold
The cardinal principle for determining whether to continue is this: Fit or Fold. No matter how pretty your hand was going into the flop; if it doesn't fit it, you must fold it. For example, when you hold high diamonds and the flop comes with clubs that do not enhance your draw, you must fold. If the board shows all low cards and you hold a high hand, fold… because the low hands have the potential to make wheels and low straights that can capture the entire pot.

One of the biggest mistakes poker players make is falling in love with a pre-flop hand and not being able to break their engagement with it. Chronic callers and other loose players lose mega-chips by not being able to disengage their emotions from their card sense. They track in a dogged effort to make their beautiful hands come in. But no matter what you've heard, beauty does not lie in the eyes of the beholder; it lies in fitting the flop." ²

2. Reprinted by permission from "Omaha Hi-Lo Poker (8 or Better)" by Shane Smith, Poker Plus Publications, ©1996