Omaha Poker Tips: Things to Avoid in Starting Hands

Omaha, Hand Selection
September 5 2008

In Omaha it is essential for a player to be able to make the right decision when choosing your starting hands. Not only does this mean picking the right hands, it also means you have to avoid the hands that will get you in trouble.

There are a number of starting hands in Omaha that look strong, but are in fact very weak and can get you into a lot of trouble. Topping this list is small pocket pairs. This includes any pocket pair lower than 9s. These hands are trouble because they rarely win even when they improve into trips. In Holdem, three of a kind has a lot of strength, but in Omaha where straights and flushes rule more often, trips are a money-loser. Don’t play low pairs because you’ll end up losing a lot more money in the long run than you will win.

Another weak starter in Omaha is low wrap hands. These are hands that could possibly make a low straight. The word "low" is what makes them dangerous to play. Whenever you have cards that can make a low straight, there is always a possibility that someone else can make a higher straight on the same board.

Here’s an example: You are dealt 4-5-6-7. You’ve got great straight potential there, but it’s still very weak. The highest possible straight you can make is a 10-high straight if 8-9-10 somehow appeared on the board. But this also gives someone else the chance to make a high straight with 7-J or J-Q. This is why your low straight isn’t as strong as you might think.

The last weak starter to avoid is a low flush draw. The same reasoning that applies to avoid a low straight draw applies to your low flush draw. Just because you can make a flush on the board doesn’t mean you should chase after it. If you were dealt a hand like 2s-6s-Kd-10c, it’s pretty meaningless that the 2 and the 6 are suited. If three spades do show up on the board, your flush – which is essentially six-high – can still be easily crushed by a higher flush. Avoid chasing low flushes or you’ll set yourself up for a big fall.

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