Poker Starting Hands Percentages

Posted onby admin

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 probabilitiesOddsPercent
Double wraparound straight draw (e.g. hand: 9-8-5-4, flop: 7-6-x)0.48-168%
Wraparound straight draw (e.g. hand: 8-5-4-x, flop: 7-6-x)0.67-160%
Straight flush draw0.84-154%
Hitting a full house with three pairs 3-124%
Hitting a full house with two pairs5.1-116.5%
Hitting quads with a set21.5-14.5%

Starting hands

The Starting Hands in Different Positions in Poker In a game of 9 handed tables, at least 6 players might wait to act. Even if it appears as a tight position, it calls for. Let’s begin with the starting hands: A♦ A♥ K♦ K♥, A♠ A♦ J♠ 10♦ and similar: Any hands featuring any pair of Aces with two broadway cards (Ten to King), are the best hands in PLO. You should raise and reraise with these hands and, if it is possible, go all-in before the flop.

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
SituationPercent
A-A-K-K double suited to win against average hand73%
A-A-K-K rainbow to win against average hand68%
A-A-7-7 double suited to win against average hand72%
A-A-7-7 rainbow to win against average hand67%
A-A-J-T double suited to win against average hand76%
A-A-J-T rainbow to win against average hand71%
J-T-9-8 double suited to win against average hand56%
J-T-9-8 rainbow to win against average hand49%

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
SituationPercent
Top set against flush draw70%-30%
Middle set against flush draw70%-30%
Top set against flush draw + two pairs68%-32%
Set against wraparound straight draw52%-48%
Set against double wraparound straight draw53%-47%
No decimals are used. The numbers are only approximal.

Comments

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

Pot odds calculator

Flush draws versus straight draws

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

Table 4. Drawing hands
SituationPercent
Flush draw against wraparound60%-40%
Flush draw against double wraparound55%-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.

Texas Holdem Starting Hands Percentages

Related article:Omaha strategy