When To Play Draws In Omaha High

Omaha is a game of draws and re-draws. Unlike Holdem it is common that a strong draw is actually favorite over a made hand on the flop. Many players make simple errors with drawing hands in Omaha high poker which can end up losing money over time. This article looks at different draws in Omaha High and suggests ways to play them profitably in various situations.

We start by looking at the various possible draws in Omaha hi poker, including wrap straight draws and combination draws. Next we look at the optimal way to play these against and opponent you suspect has a made hand and how to factor in re-draws. Finally we look at the reverse situation – when you have a made hand and suspect and opponent is betting with a strong draw.

Strong Drawing Hands

The strongest drawing hands in Omaha include wrap straights and combination flush / straight draws. With the right flop and a starting hand close in rank it is easily possible to have 17 or even 20 outs on the turn and river. For example 4-5-6-7 on a board of 2-3-8 is a very strong holding – add a low flush draw and you would be a strong favorite against an opponent holding trips.

Combination draws can also involve 2-pairs + a flush draw. For example you hold A-K-8-9 suited to the ace on a K-8-2 board with 2 of your suit. You now have 9 outs twice for the flush in addition to the full house outs.

Draw to the Best Hand

The critical factor in playing draws in Omaha High is that you should only draw to the strongest possible hand. The 4 hole cards of each player mean that there will be many combinations present – drawing to a non-nut flush or low end of a straight can be very expensive indeed when you find out you are second best.

Re-draws also need to be taken into account when playing to hit the nut straight or flush. An opponent holding trips has 7 outs on the turn and 10 on the river to make a full-house, many of these outs will make your flush at the same time. To avoid situations like this you should very rarely draw to a straight or flush when the board is paired.

Fold Equity

The key to playing draws in Omaha, whether wraps, combination draws or more common draws like open ended straights is to use fold equity to your advantage. Betting big (even by re-raising all in with the pot limit betting structure) actually gives you 2 ways to win the pot. If your opponent folds then great – you take the chips. If your opponent calls then you may still have enough outs to be favorite to win a big pot.

Flat Calling

A common error that newer Omaha players make is to flat call with their strong draws. This is particularly unprofitable against observant opponents who may not pay you off if an obvious draw (for example a flush) comes in. Betting strongly with drawing hands not only gives you a chance to win the current pot in 2 ways – it also disguises those times when you are betting out with a strong made hand.

If you suspect an opponent has a draw and you have a made hand such as trips then it can sometimes be profitable to flat call a bet on the flop. If a ‘safe’ card comes on the turn then you can bet a big enough amount to make continuing with the draw unprofitable for your opponent. If an obvious draw is made then you can fold, saving a large number of chips.

To summarize, Omaha high is a game of big draws and re-draws. Selecting starting hands which work well together can often make you a favorite on the flop against a made hand. Betting aggressively with your draws will enable you to pick up many pots uncontested, the times you are called you still have outs that may win you the hand.

Previous: Fixed Limit Omaha High Strategy | Next: Best Site for Omaha High