STRATEGY
Conceptually, the strategy for Super Omaha Poker™ is quite simple:
This is a game that is meant to be played, and played aggressively. It's important to recognize that there is no qualifier, and that the dealer will play with you with any four cards no matter how much you bet -- the goal here is to maximize the value of your big hands and draws by betting the max (3x) whenever you are a favorite over a random hand.
Optimal Betting Frequencies: The Flop
Max-bet (3x): 47.3%
Min-bet (1x): 35.6%
Fold: 17.1%
The Omaha Straight Draws: Wrap Basics
One of the unique features of Omaha is the ability to generate massive draws that can be a favorite even over a set on the flop. The source of these massive draws is the straight draws.
In hold'em -- and in most other forms of poker -- the biggest straight draw you have is an 8-card draw in the form of either an open-ended or double-gutshot straight draw. But in Omaha, it is possible to have straight draws with as many as 20 outs!
Any straight draw with 9 or more outs is generally referred to as a wraparound straight draw, or wrap for short.
For example, let's say you have 9-8-7-4 on a 10-6-2 flop. In this case, any 9, 8, or 7 will complete your straight, giving you 9 outs to make a straight with two cards to come. This is what's known as an inside wrap, as hitting any of the inside cards between the 10 and 6 will make a straight. A 9-out inside wrap will complete a straight by the river 36.4% of the time.
Now let's say instead that you have Q-J-10-4 on a 9-8-2 flop. This time, any Q, J, 10, or 7 will make a straight, giving you 13 outs to make a straight, completing a straight 49.9% of the time.
A hand like A-J-10-7 on a 9-8-4 flop has 17 outs, as any queen, jack, ten, seven, or six will make a straight. This draw is a favorite to hit, making a straight 61.8% of the time.
Meanwhile, a hand like Q-J-8-7 (a four card rundown with a two-gap in the middle) on a 10-9-5 flop (hitting the two-gap) will have 20 outs, completing a straight 69.7% of the time!
For the most complete look at the straight draws, check out my book Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy.
The Wraparound Straight Draws: Basic Stuctures
- Play (82.9% of hands). If you have any piece of the board or any draw whatsoever -- even as little as a gutshot -- you are going to play. The next question is for how much.
- Max-bet (3x) (47.3% of hands). If you have a big hand (generally top pair or better), a big draw (a draw with more than 13 outs), or a multi-way hand (for example pair plus flush draw, or pair plus open-ended straight draw), you should bet the max (3x) .
- Fold (17.1% of hands). Generally speaking, you should only fold if you miss the flop completely (17.1% of hands).
This is a game that is meant to be played, and played aggressively. It's important to recognize that there is no qualifier, and that the dealer will play with you with any four cards no matter how much you bet -- the goal here is to maximize the value of your big hands and draws by betting the max (3x) whenever you are a favorite over a random hand.
Optimal Betting Frequencies: The Flop
Max-bet (3x): 47.3%
Min-bet (1x): 35.6%
Fold: 17.1%
The Omaha Straight Draws: Wrap Basics
One of the unique features of Omaha is the ability to generate massive draws that can be a favorite even over a set on the flop. The source of these massive draws is the straight draws.
In hold'em -- and in most other forms of poker -- the biggest straight draw you have is an 8-card draw in the form of either an open-ended or double-gutshot straight draw. But in Omaha, it is possible to have straight draws with as many as 20 outs!
Any straight draw with 9 or more outs is generally referred to as a wraparound straight draw, or wrap for short.
For example, let's say you have 9-8-7-4 on a 10-6-2 flop. In this case, any 9, 8, or 7 will complete your straight, giving you 9 outs to make a straight with two cards to come. This is what's known as an inside wrap, as hitting any of the inside cards between the 10 and 6 will make a straight. A 9-out inside wrap will complete a straight by the river 36.4% of the time.
Now let's say instead that you have Q-J-10-4 on a 9-8-2 flop. This time, any Q, J, 10, or 7 will make a straight, giving you 13 outs to make a straight, completing a straight 49.9% of the time.
A hand like A-J-10-7 on a 9-8-4 flop has 17 outs, as any queen, jack, ten, seven, or six will make a straight. This draw is a favorite to hit, making a straight 61.8% of the time.
Meanwhile, a hand like Q-J-8-7 (a four card rundown with a two-gap in the middle) on a 10-9-5 flop (hitting the two-gap) will have 20 outs, completing a straight 69.7% of the time!
For the most complete look at the straight draws, check out my book Pot-Limit Omaha Poker: The Big Play Strategy.
The Wraparound Straight Draws: Basic Stuctures
Hand
|
Flop
|
Outs
|
Complete By River
|
Q-J-10-5
Q-J-10-5 Q-J-8-2 Q-J-8-7 |
K-9-2
9-8-2 10-9-3 10-9-2 |
9
13 17 20 |
36.4%
49.9% 61.8% 69.7% |