Basic Starting Hands

Comment(s) on this article

Louis A. Bajkai Mar 8, 2008

I hope your strategy will prove profitable!
Louis

Mike Jun 1, 2008

Unlikely that you can profit from just using a starting hands chart, good place to start however and very useful for a beginner!

stelladubious Jul 25, 2008

i love the smell of rain

tw0aces Sep 3, 2008

is there a reason why A-A-K-Q was not included as the second best Omaha Hi starting hand in the list above?

Didn't know if it was an oversight or if there was some thoughtful consideration behind it...

Sean Lind Sep 3, 2008

This is how the list should look. AAKQ is only included in the AAxx row.

The reason for this is definitely in the thoughtful consideration category.

PLO is a nut only game, meaning the best starting hands are the hands to give you the greatest opportunity to make a nut hand. This is why AATJ is the second best hand. It gives you the power of Aces (with nut flush draws when suited to the other cards), and TJ gives you the highest possible straight opportunities, without dead-ending.

The problem with AAKQ, is the KQ dead ends on the straight draw with only one card higher. Not only that, you have two of the higher outs. You need a TJ as well as a 9 or an ace (which you have two of). The odds of making a nut straight are very slim here, giving you only Aces, with two high cards.

To keep is simple, you want your hands to have the most options to hit the nuts.

Does that help at all?

Lex Apr 8, 2009

Thanks that's a good start.

smog Sep 10, 2009

Whats wrong with AKQJ DS?

Sean Lind Sep 10, 2009

Smog,

There's nothing wrong with AKQJ DS, it's just not a premium hand. It's like AQ or AJ in holdem, a good hand, but by no means the nuts.

sodapopkid Oct 12, 2009

well smog .the list is for the top 30 hands and akqj double suited isnt that far behind inpercentage points for being a winning hand at all.
they are just listing the top hands ... but akqj will catch alot lesst straights than j1098 ....notice your pushing out alot of the strts by being so high up...but the nut high ace flush gives you an advantage in the game ... hell ill play akqj double suited against an alliner anyday !!! (well against the bad plrs i will) just hope hes not playing a top 30 hand (oops) but against the really good ones they have a top 30 hand and you need to pay atantion to who your playing PAY ATENTION TO WHO YOU ARE PLAYING !!!! and the flop more than the starting cards... the top 30 hands OUT OF 6,4974,00 are just easier to make profitable.. AND LESS EASY TO SCREW UP ..but youll see that as time goes by .. AA OVER KK IN OMAHA IS A FAR LOWER %AGE WINNER THAN IN HOLDEM WHERE KK IS LITERALLY DOMINATED

Victor Nov 6, 2009

Is there any good reason to raise before the flop with a good starting hand? Any good hand needs improvement on the flop?

Sean Lind Nov 6, 2009

Victor,

Although Omaha is really a turn and river game, a great starting hand will still have an edge over a marginal or poor starting hand pre-flop.

The general idea in poker is to put as much money into the pot when you're ahead, and as little into the pot when you're behind.

This is true for a draw heavy game such as Omaha as well. When you have the best hand pre-flop, it makes sense to be raising.