Omaha - Odds

Here are some important probabilities in Omaha that returns in different situations. Knowledge about probabilities will help you to better evaluate situations in poker. You will , for example, know when you should call and when you shouldn't, and, vice versa, know when to fold and when the odds are in your favor.

Table 1. Playing situations
Drawing hands probabilities Odds Percent
Double wraparound straight draw (e.g. hand: 9-8-5-4, flop: 7-6-x) 0.48-1 68%
Wraparound straight draw (e.g. hand: 8-5-4-x, flop: 7-6-x) 0.67-1 60%
Straight flush draw 0.84-1 54%
Hitting a full house with three pairs 3-1 24%
Hitting a full house with two pairs 5.1-1 16.5%
Hitting quads with a set 21.5-1 4.5%

Starting hands

There are many starting hands in Omaha (16.432 if not all suit combinations are counted), which makes it difficult to get an overview. Table 2 will hopefully increase that overview a bit.

Table 2. Starting hand versus average hand
Situation Percent
A-A-K-K double suited to win against average hand 73%
A-A-K-K rainbow to win against average hand 68%
A-A-7-7 double suited to win against average hand 72%
A-A-7-7 rainbow to win against average hand 67%
A-A-J-T double suited to win against average hand 76%
A-A-J-T rainbow to win against average hand 71%
J-T-9-8 double suited to win against average hand 56%
J-T-9-8 rainbow to win against average hand 49%

Comments

Exemple of a double suited hand: Q♥ A♥ 2♦ K♦
Exemple of a rainbow hand: Q♥ A♣ 2♠ K♦

The best Omaha hands are less bigger favorites against an average hand compared to Texas Hold'em.

In Texas Hold'em, common knowledge is that A-A is very big favorite against all other hands. In Omaha, A-A as a part of a hand is far from that strong. In general, an A-A-x-x hand versus a random four-card hand is a 70-30 favorite in average (if all the starting hands that are normally folded are excluded, the A-A-x-x hands will be even less favorites).

Made hands versus draws

A typical feature in an Omaha Hi game is a set against a hand with several drawing possibilities. The made hand will not be a very big favorite (sometimes it is an underdog), so the recommended strategy is to play fast and bet/raise the pot in these situations.

Table 3. Made hand versus drawing hand
Situation Percent
Top set against flush draw 70%-30%
Middle set against flush draw 70%-30%
Top set against flush draw + two pairs 68%-32%
Set against wraparound straight draw 52%-48%
Set against double wraparound straight draw 53%-47%
No decimals are used. The numbers are only approximal.

Comments

Factors that can affect the odds are for example blocking cards.

Flush draws versus straight draws

In Omaha, hands with flush draws are often more likely to win than straight draws.

Table 4. Drawing hands
Situation Percent
Flush draw against wraparound 60%-40%
Flush draw against double wraparound 55%-45%
No decimals are used. The numbers are only approximal.

Comments

Since that many cards are in action, there are often combined possibilities, which makes it hard to give general percentages. A hand with a flush draw has mostly something else, like a pair or a straight draw as well.

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