Vegas Tips Hot New Omaha Hi Lo Tips! “Being counterfeited and scooping the pot” Well, I know everyone reading this tip loves my stories and overall poker philosophies. However, I realize most people want to learn techniques from the pros as well, so this tip is about my favorite poker game in Vegas--Omaha Hi Lo. I will be discussing two important topics aspects of this fierce game, so if you have a chance to play this game while in Las Vegas, do make sure you understand this article. First, it’s very important to notice if you’re getting counterfeited in Omaha Hi Lo. Unfortunate as it may be, this situation happens a lot in this particular poker game, so you have to be confident and know the rules. In Hi Lo Omaha, if one of your low cards matches one of the board cards, this disqualifies you from winning the low hand. Below is an example of a player being counterfeited from winning the qualifying low hand. Player One has:  Ah2cJsJc (a counterfeited low hand)                                     Player Two has:  2h3cKhQc (a qualifying low hand)                                   Player Three has:   10s10d5s9s (high hand--tens full of sevens)                           The Board shows:  7d10c6d7hAs                             In this example, Player One gets his hand counterfeited because his Ace paired the board, therefore, disqualifying him from winning the low hand. Player Two, on the other hand, has a winning low hand with 2h3c6d7hAs With all the excitement going on in Vegas, not to mention money being thrown around in the game of Omaha Hi Lo, a player could inadvertently think he has a qualifying low hand. In fact, his hand could be good all along—then all of a sudden the Ace is paired on the board and he gets counterfeited. It’s a very expensive lesson to learn, so this is why I am touching upon it in this on my website. Hi Lo Omaha is gaining popularity in the poker world, especailly in Vegas, because people are getting bored with playing games like Texas Hold’em all the time. If you happen to find such a thrilling game of poker being played while you're vacationing here, be absolutely sure you know this little tip so you don’t end up embarrassing yourself at showdown.   Also, a player can “scoop” the pot in the game of Omaha Hi Lo. This is a win of both the high hand and the qualifying low hand--by using all four hole cards. Unlike the game of Texas Hold’em, all players in the game of Omaha receive four hole-cards to play with. Although the rules for Omaha are such that it is required that each player must use precisely two of his four hole-cards for a winning hand, in Omaha Hi Lo he can use ALL four of his cards: two out of the four hole-cards for a winning high hand, and two out of the four hole-cards for a qualifying low hand. Here is a perfect example of how a player technically wins both the high hand and the qualifying low hand (scooping the pot): Player One has: 8h8sAh2c (eights full of fives high/Ace-two low)         Player Two has: JsJc2h6d (Jacks and fives high/two-six low)                             Board shows: 8c5h5d3h7c                             In this example, Player One wins with both the high hand and the low hand. He is able to use all four cards—two for the qualifying low hand and two for the full house (high hand). Here both players can essentially use all four cards—two for the high hand and two for the qualifying low hand. This rule is acceptable in the game of Omaha Hi Lo and is important for all players to understand. You won’t be able to ask a lot of questions at the table. Although most dealers will be glad to give you advice (after a playing hand) about these two important issues, your opponents tend to frown upon this because it really slows the game down. I personally do not mind asking questions about anything, especially if I am unclear about the rules and my money is on the line. However, make sure you know these two important issues: “being counterfeited” and “scooping the pot,” prior to sitting down to play Omaha Hi Lo in Las Vegas or, for that matter, at any major casino or cardroom. Like I’ve always said, Hi Lo Omaha is a very aggressive game to play, so be prepared—know the rules!