Tip #6: Straight Boards in Pot Limit Omaha

When playing pot limit Omaha, many newer players tend to get themselves involved into hands where they end up being 2nd best which, obviously, is not any good. This will generally stem from their starting hand selection and over valuing hands that seem extremely valuable, but actually should be played with caution if at all.

One of these common scenarios is when players play connected-unsuited starting hands or 1-gap connectors. For example, connected starting hands would look something like 7-8-9-10 while a 1-gap starting hand would look something like 5-6-8-9. Provided below are our tips on how to avoid many common pitfalls that players face with hands such as these and how a player should go about playing them.

Straight Boards in Omaha

Probably one of the biggest mistakes players make when choosing hands is just simply not being selective enough. Now, a starting hand such as 7-8-9-10 is solid, but it needs to be pointed out that this hand is much better being double suited as it will give ‘re-draws’ to potentially better hands.

For example, if you were to have 7d-8h-9s-10c and the flop is Jc-Qs-Ks then you have just caught the bottom end of a straight which is a good hand. However, the issue here is that it is very possible, if not likely, that an opponent has an A-10 for the nut straight. With a hand like this, you were simply drawing to second best all along.

On the other hand, if you were to start with 7-d-8d-9s-10s, then now you have a much better starting hand because it is double suited. This now allows you to ‘re-draw’ to a better hand like in this case, a straight flush or K high flush. Making sure your 4 consecutive hole cards are suited or double suited will provide you with other outs in attempt to keep you from having to be only ’2nd best.’

Another big mistake that is commonly made is over-playing gapped connecting hole cards such as 5-6-8-9. This hand is definitely playable if it is double suited; however, it is not nearly as valuable as say 5-6-7-8 or 6-7-8-9. The reason for this is that one missing card can easily open the door to a higher hand.

For example, if you have 5-6-8-9 against your opponent’s 6-7-8-9 then your hand is extremely vulnerable. The reason being is that if a flop brings 6-8-10, that gap that you have simply will not help. But it helped your opponent. You have a two pair, but only four cards can make your hand better than your opponent’s.

Something else to keep in mind with gapped starting hands is that you may have the same nut straight as your opponent, but if another card comes on the turn or river that allows your opponent to play a card in his starting hand that you do not have for a higher hand, you again just became 2nd best.

Playing Straight Boards in Omaha – Final Words

When playing pot limit Omaha it is really important to realize that not all hole cards are created equal. What we mean by that is, is that hands such as 6c-7h-8d-9s is ok but not nearly as valuable as the same hand but double suited such as 6h-7h-8c-9c. Additionally, any 4 connectors will be much more valuable then connectors with a gap in it such as 6-7-8-9 vs. 5-7-8-9. Once a player realizes these points, they can go about trying to avoid the common pitfalls associated with these types of hands and work on having the best hand as opposed to coming up short and only being 2nd best.