Starting With Big Pairs
Two aces is a key hand in Omaha eight-or-better. With a deuce – and to a lesser extent a trey – included, you can consider two aces a premium hand.
The bad part of having a pair of bullets is that when you make three of a kind with the aces, one of the cards needed to make a low hand that can cost you half the pot is not on board.
However, an ace on board won’t make that many straights. If you make, let’s say, three fours with two fours in your hand, the threat of running into a straight (not to mention a bigger set) is now greater.
On the other hand, if you make a high set, such as three kings, you have eliminated one possible low card on board, which means that it is not as likely that someone will share a low with you.
As stated earlier, this is a major advantage of holding a pair of kings. However, when you make three aces and also have a low draw, you have a chance to win both sides in a multiway pot.
But if you flop three kings, the pot is not likely to be multiway poker pot unless two low cards are also on board, in which case your hand is severely diminished.
When you have two aces without a good low card, you can’t stand a lot of action before the flop unless you are suited up or have four high cards. For example, suppose you hold this hand should be thrown away if there is any kind of action early, because neither ace is suited with either of the other two cards.
Also notice that if there is any kind of strong action, it is likely that someone else has an ace and he probably holds ace-deuce.
Thus the chances of your making three aces or better have of your aces anymore but need to rely on your other combinations, so they have to be extra strong.
This makes two aces a peculiar hand. In fact, if there is a lot of action, the aggressive raiser may hold the other two aces, which really cripples your hand.
Other big pairs do poorly unless the pot limit is short-handed, the flop comes with three high cards (in which case no low can come out), or the pairs are joined by two other related high cards.
As the big cards get lower, their value drops way off. This is because when you make straights, it puts low cards on board, which of course will give your opponents opportunities to make lows.
For example, any hand you hold that includes an eight-nine or a nine-ten will split the pot almost automatically if you make a straight with a five-six-seven or a six-seven-eight on board.
So the potential of being able to scoop the pot with a high hands is greatly reduced. In fact, a hand like is close to the worst four cards that you can be dealt. Those of you who consistently play these types of hands will have no chance in this game.
Introduction / General Concepts / Position / Low Hands / High Hands / Your Starting Hand / Starting With Big Pairs / When You Are First In / How To Play Your Hand / Play on the Flop / When Your Have the Best Hand / Afterthought
