Poker News

Sam Mudaro, ‘The Omaha Guru’

If you play Omaha H/L 8 or better in live games in a brick and mortar casino you have inevitably heard someone say “You need to play 4 cards working together.” Just what does that mean? Does it even make sense? Should you play any 4 cards working together? Four cards working together: Does it mean 2 cards to the high with 2 cards to the low as in 3-8-9-K? Does it mean 4 cards toward the low (5-6-7-8) or 4 cards to the high (9-T-J-Q)? Should they be to the nut low (A-2-3-4) or nut high only (A-K-Q-J)? Are any double suited cards, regardless of rank, considered 4 cards working together? How about 7-8-9-K?

Today I will embark upon a series of articles to try and make some sense of this concept. Let me state that all the hands mentioned above, except for the A-2- 3-4 are losers in the nonsuited version.

Let me start the analysis by looking at connectors. Four cards that have no gaps between their ranks. There are 11 possible combinations that may be formed using the ace as both high and low. I ran each possible combination by dealing a tight player the same 4 cards in each position, in a tight game, over 1 million times. I chose to only run the non-suited version and the double suited, high to low, version. This presents the worst and best combination with respect to suit. All other suited combination will fall somewhere in between these two. Here are the results:

Inthe chart above, the column labeled “Hand” shows the rank of the 4 cards held by the player. The two columns labeled none-suited and double suited represent separate simulations with the cards suited accordingly. The double suited hands are double suited with the high cards to the low cards. Displayed are the win percent and net amount won/ lost per hand on average.

Looking at the non-suited connectors it should be apparent the only profitable combination is A-2- 3-4 with a decent net of $11.19. Note there are two hands with double digit win percentages rates yet only one profitable hand. If we turn our attention to the double suited variety there are four profitable hands. Every hand exhibiting a double-digit win percentage is profitable. This includes a hand with no possible low draw the A-J-Q-K. Do note that the win percentage of A-J-Q-K is greater than that of the 2-3-4-5 but the net is $0.58 or 15.8% less. Another prime example of the fact that we are not out to win more pots, but to win more money.

The chart above presents us with another key point in Omaha H/L. You need to play hands that are or have the best chance to become “the nuts”. While the 2-3- 4-5 and 3-4-5-6 are profitable, take note of the large difference in net from the A-2-3-4. This of course is more important in pot limit and nolimit games as well as tournament play where you may suffer a big loss or elimination. I see too many players call after the pot has been raised and/or re-raised with the second best hand or a draw to the second best. Do not draw to the second best low when it is obvious you opponent is there or will beat you if the low gets there. Save your chips. An example may best explain the concept. Your opponent holds A-2 while you hold 2-3. The flop is 4-5-K. Your opponent will make the nut low with a 3, 6, 7 or 8. You can only make a better low if an A comes. You may win a quarter of the pot if a 6 arrives. Do you want to chase a one outer or a quarter of the pot?

So what have we learned? Not all instances of four cards working together are worth playing. Double suited is better then non-suited. Most importantly, if you are drawing, draw to the nuts.

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