Omaha Hi-Lo: Playing Aces and Wraps

By PokerPages

Pocket Aces in Omaha Hi Lo

Everyone who plays Texas hold'em knows about AA. It's the boss hand, the pocket rockets, the hand that can't be beat pre-flop. In most cases, a player dealt AA in a Texas hold'em game will want to raise before the flop, as this hand plays extremely well in heads-up situations, but its likelihood of winning decreases as the number of players in the hand increases.

Aces in Omaha Hi Lo

Omaha hi lo presents a very different situation. In Omaha h /lo, each player receives four cards and can use exactly two. What this means is that in a full ring game there are a wide variety of possible winning hands, and that whatever the nut hand turns out to be, someone is likely to hold it. Some Omaha hi lo players regularly raise pre-flop if they have AA or A2. In addition to making these players extremely predictable, this is not necessarily a positive expected value play.

Why AA is Not as Strong in Omaha Hi Lo as in Hold'em

Consider the fact that it often requires the nuts to win an Omaha hi lo hand. If you could only use your two aces and the other two cards did not play, how often would you win? You would never win the low without two low cards. You would never win if there was a flush or a straight on the board. In fact, you would only be guaranteed to win if another A and a pair appeared on the board. Think about how likely that is to happen. In Texas hold'em, a single pair can be good enough to win the pot, so your AA may win on its own merits. In Omaha hi lo, it is very rarely the case that a single pair or even two pair wins high.

What to do with Pocket Aces in Omaha Hi Lo

This being the case, how should you handle your pocket aces? You need to remember that Omaha hi lo is a four-card game. You should definitely be inclined to play your hand in many cases, since an ace is a very powerful card in Omaha, and if there are two in your hand, that's two fewer that can be in the hands of your opponents. However, you should determine whether to bet, raise or fold based on your entire four card hand. You would like all four cards to be working together in some fashion, either to give you a potential nut low or some flush or straight possibilities, in order to consider getting aggressive with a hand containing pocket aces.

Wraps in Omaha Hi Lo

Omaha, with its four cards distributed to each player pre-flop, presents certain options and ideas not present in Texas hold'em. The idea in Omaha is not to start out with a strong hand, but to start out with multiple strong combinations. One pre-flop hand to give attention to is the double suited hand, where you have two cards in two different suits, giving you two flush possibilities. Another is the wrap, where you have four cards close together in rank, giving multiple straight possibilities. Here's a look at how to play wraps in Omaha hi lo.

High Wraps in Omaha Hi Lo

A high wrap in Omaha hi lo, like T J Q K, is good, but not the best. If a low comes on the board, you have no chance to scoop, so your only chance comes in making the top straight. You have a good chance to do this, but you can also expect to lose even if you make top straight if three of a suit comes or the board pairs. You should see a flop with this hand if you can do so cheaply, but don't be afraid to release it.

Middle Wraps in Omaha Hi Lo

A middle wrap, like 6 7 8 9, is nearly useless in Omaha hi lo. Even if you make a straight, there is a good chance someone can make a higher one. If you make your straight with middle or low cards, there will almost certainly be a low, meaning you can only win half the pot if your straight holds up. You should avoid playing middle wraps in Omaha hi lo

Low Wraps in Omaha Hi Lo

Lo wraps, like 3 4 5 6, are the best wraps to have in Omaha hi lo. You have a good chance of scooping by making a straight and a good low. Furthermore, you may quarter someone who has only the low. For example, if the board reads A 2 4 7 8, an opponent holding a 3 5 will happily call and raise every bet with the nut low and a straight, but you will take three quarters of the pot with your nut low and a higher straight.

The thing to remember is that you are always looking for ways to make the nuts and scoop the pot in Omaha hi lo. If your wrap will help you do that, you should play it accordingly. If not, let it go and wait for a stronger hand.