Omaha Starting Hands
Omaha 8 Starting Hand Guidelines
Much like every other form of poker, your decisions before the flop have a great deal to do with your overall profitability while playing Omaha 8. The biggest decision is whether to play a hand or not. If you have studied Texas holdem, you have probably had the concept of position drilled into you, so you will fold many hands from early position that you play from late position. The good news is that you can disregard your position most of the time when playing Omaha 8, at least where starting hands come into play. A hand is either good enough to see the flop or it is not. Though it is outside of the scope of this article, there are situations in Omaha 8 where acting first can be advantageous.
Though many hands can be played profitably in both limit and pot limit Omaha 8, I have split them into two sections, because there are a few hands that I play all of the time in limit play that I don’t play in pot limit. This is because getting quartered occasionally in a limit game will not destroy your bankroll, especially when you play well otherwise. In pot limit play though, getting quartered in one or two bad situations can turn a profitable night into a big loss. As you will see below, the main hands I avoid are A2xx and A3xx when they don’t have anything else going for them, like counterfeit low protection or a card suited to the Ace.
Limit Omaha 8
Listed below are the hands that I suggest playing in limit Omaha 8. These are very tight guidelines, and as you improve with practice you will be able to expand them a small amount, but I do not recommend expanding them before you become a strong overall player.
A2xx x stands for any card
A3xx When the Ace is suited or you have three to a straight.
Awwx w stands for a wheel card (2 3 4 5), unless the wheel cards are paired 4’s or 5’s.
t t t t t stands for any card ten or higher. If they are double paired, I often fold them.
wwww Four unpaired wheel cards or 234 with one of them paired.
AAxx Double suited
Pot Limit Omaha 8
Here are the starting hand guidelines for pot limit Omaha 8. They are tighter than those listed for limit play, but almost all of your profit in pot limit play will come from scoops, the few hands where you have the best hand with a redraw to a better hand and when you can win 3/4 of the pot. Just one or two of these hands in a session can turn a large profit if you learn to avoid marginal situations or worse. To achieve these situations, you have to be very selective with your starting hands and only play those that allow you the best chance to scoop or win 3/4.
A2wx A2 with another wheel card for counterfeit protection. Do not play “bare” A2, as there is too much of a chance to get quartered.
A3wx Only when the Ace is suited.
Awww Especially if the Ace is suited. I fold this hand when it is unsuited at times.
t t t t These hands range from poor (TTJJ) to strong (AAKQ double suited). At the least you want a possibility of an Ace high straight or flush, but when this is in combination with a high pair, which gives you a chance at top full house, it is even better.
wwww Four unpaired wheel cards, but if an Ace doesn’t flop, you need to be very careful. I fold these hands at times, but they can be profitable, usually when used to form a low straight with the nut low.
AAxx Double suited, especially if you have an outside shot at low.
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