How to Choose the Best Omaha Starting Hands: Step-by-Step Strategy
AAKK double-suited wins only 33% against AAJT double-suited. This narrow equity gap separates PLO’s best hands.
Texas Hold’em players face a reality shock in Pot Limit Omaha. Premium hands dominate far less than expected. Even the strongest possible starting hand maintains modest advantages.
PLO presents 16,432 possible starting combinations, and 270,725 combinations in total. As a comparison, in Texas Hold’em, there are only 1,326 combinations.
Players use exactly two hole cards to make hands. These factors create intricate preflop decisions from the first action.
Premium pairs with double-suited picture cards form the best Omaha starting hands. Yet pocket pairs lose significant value compared to Hold’em. NLHE converts struggle with this adjustment.
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Hand selection in PLO demands different thinking. Nuttiness, connectedness, and suitedness matter more than raw card strength. Position becomes critically important for realizing equity.
This guide covers the best PLO starting hand evaluation step-by-step. You’ll learn which hands to play and why. Common mistakes get highlighted alongside profitable decision-making frameworks.
Players who master PLO hand selection gain substantial edges. The equity differences are smaller. The decisions are more frequent. Getting preflop play right sets up postflop success.
PLO Hand Evaluation: The Three-Component Framework
Three components determine starting hand strength in Pot Limit Omaha. Players must analyze each factor when selecting premium hands. High cards alone don’t guarantee profitability.
Nuttiness
Nuttiness measures your hand’s ability to make absolute best hands. Second-best hands cost significant money in PLO. Players frequently connect with strong holdings.
Your cards should target:
- Nut flushes through ace-high suits
- Highest possible straights
- Dominant sets with premium pairs
Aces provide exceptional value through flush and set potential. High card strength matters more at shallow stack depths. Nuttiness becomes crucial in multiway pots and deeper stacks.
Connectedness (Rundown & Wraps)
Connected cards generate powerful drawing opportunities in PLO. Rundowns feature consecutive cards like JT98. These combinations create “wraps” with multiple straight outs.
Minimal gaps produce the strongest rundowns. JT98 significantly outperforms J786 in nut-making frequency. Bottom-gap rundowns like JT97 beat top-gap versions like J987. Bottom gaps allow more nut straight possibilities.
Flopped wraps can provide up to 20 straight outs. This creates extremely powerful drawing situations.
Suitedness
Double-suited hands contain two cards of two different suits. These configurations dramatically outperform single-suited or rainbow holdings. Double-suited hands maintain approximately 50.13% equity against identical unsuited versions.
AAJT double-suited exemplifies perfect hand construction. High pairs provide nuttiness. Broadway connectors add straight potential. Double-suitedness creates flush possibilities. This combination ranks as PLO’s second-best starting hand, closely behind AAKK double-suited.
Rainbow hands with four different suits perform poorly. Fold these except for absolute premium holdings.
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Core PLO Hand Selection Principles
Hand selection separates winning PLO players from losing ones. Equity differences are smaller than Hold’em. Proper selection principles become essential for long-term profit.
Four cards must work together
PLO’s cardinal rule: all four cards need coordination. AA alone creates problems without supporting cards. Even premium pairs require complementary holdings.
AAKK double-suited works because every card contributes value. Connected cards create multiple winning paths. JT98 double-suited stays competitive against AA hands preflop.
Danglers kill hand value. AQJ6 contains a useless six that adds nothing. Every card should serve a clear purpose in your hand structure.
Rainbow hands lose value
Four different suits eliminate flush potential. Fold rainbow hands unless they’re premium holdings.
Three-suited hands block your own outs. You reduce flush possibilities by holding extra cards of one suit.
Quad starting hands like 2222 represent terrible holdings. You’ve blocked all improvement possibilities. Only a weak pair remains.
Middle cards without backup create equity realization problems. Uncoordinated hands struggle despite PLO’s compressed equity ranges.
Target nut potential with redraws
Second-best hands create disasters in PLO. Choose hands with clear nut possibilities. Backup plans matter when primary draws fail.
Redraws increase hand value dramatically. Set plus flush draw creates freeroll situations against opponents. Double-suited hands outperform single-suited for this reason.
Gap position matters in connected hands. Bottom gaps like JT97 beat top gaps like 6543. High-end gaps make more nut straights. This distinction separates winners from second-best hand makers.
The 10 best Omaha Starting Hands
Ten premium hands separate winning PLO players from losing ones. These combinations share specific traits that create statistical advantages.
Elite PLO hands fall into two categories:
- Premium pairs with coordinated cards
- Connected rundowns with strong suitedness
Double-suitedness dominates this hierarchy. Nine hands contain ace pairs.
AAKK Double Suited
AAKK double-suited sits atop the best PLO starting hand hierarchy. Even this premium hand shows narrow equity edges compared to Hold’em favorites.
This hand holds 67% equity against random holdings. Against AAJT double suited, the advantage drops to 53%. These margins demonstrate PLO’s compressed equity distribution and is a HUGE difference to Texas Hold’em. Find all key differences between PLO and Texas Hold’em here.
AAKK performs better against premium kings. It maintains 67% equity versus KKQQ double suited. Still, these percentages show why PLO avoids overwhelming preflop favorites.
The hand’s power stems from multiple components:
- Pocket aces for top set potential
- Pocket kings for backup strength
- Double suitedness for flush draws
- High card connectivity for straights
AAKK excels across different board textures. Ace-high flops give overpairs with potential nut flush draws. King-high boards create strong sets with full house redraws.
This hand appears once every 45,121 deals. Rarity makes it especially valuable when dealt. Players should raise aggressively with statistical favorites.
Caution remains necessary despite premium status. PLO punishes overattachment to starting hands. Even AAKK can become vulnerable on problematic flops.
The hand ranks as theoretically best in PLO. However, small equity edges mean careful postflop play stays crucial. Starting hand strength doesn’t guarantee winning results.
AAJT Double Suited
AAJT double suited ranks second among the best Omaha starting hands. Versatility beats raw pair strength in this position.
Pocket aces combine with JT connectivity. Multiple nut hand paths emerge from this structure. Broadway cards create straight possibilities beyond the ace power.
Equity matchups reveal tight competition. AAJT double suited holds 48% against AAKK double suited. Hold’em rarely shows such narrow gaps between premium hands.
The JT connector separates AAJT from other ace combinations. AAQQ double suited ranks third overall. Yet JT provides superior straight-making potential. Connected cards create winning scenarios beyond ace reliance.
Double-suitedness amplifies strength significantly. AAJT double suited holds 67% equity against unsuited versions. Multiway scenarios maintain this advantage. Against two unsuited opponents, equity stays at 52%.
Statistical analysis confirms consistent rankings. Perfect balance drives this strength:
- Nuttiness from aces
- Connectivity from JT
- Suitedness from two flush possibilities
Raise this hand from any position. High pair value plus redraw potential creates exceptional performance. Multiway pots and heads-up scenarios both favor AAJT double suited.
Playability across flop textures sets AAJT apart. Isolated pairs struggle on certain boards. AAJT maintains confidence on most textures.
Players can continue betting with multiple improvement paths. This flexibility explains why AAJT double suited earns its elite ranking.
AAQQ Double Suited
AAQQ double suited ranks third among the best PLO starting hands. This combination blends pocket aces with backup queens plus double-suited potential.
The hand structure creates multiple winning paths:
- Top set potential with aces
- Second-best set possibilities with queens
- Flush draws in two different suits
- Full house redraws when either pair connects
AAQQ performs well against most PLO holdings. Queens provide backup strength that isolated aces lack. Paired boards favor this hand over pure connectors like AAJT.
Strategic considerations matter with AAQQ. Raise from any position preflop. The hand plays effectively both heads-up and multiway. Aggressive play suits its inherent strength.
Caution becomes necessary on queen-high flops. Opponents might hold higher sets. Significant aggression on these boards requires careful evaluation.
Straight-heavy boards present challenges. AAQQ lacks connectivity compared to AAJT double suited. Connected opponents often hold substantial equity against unimproved pairs.
Postflop playability remains excellent. Overpairs, set potential, and flush draws create numerous winning combinations. This versatility makes AAQQ profitable across various board textures.
Players who master AAQQ double suited gain significant edges. The combination of high pairs plus suitedness provides consistent profit opportunities.
AAJJ double suited
AAJJ double suited ranks fourth among the best PLO starting hands. Aces provide immediate equity advantage. Jacks add secondary pair value.
This hand demonstrates diminishing returns in top-tier holdings. AAJJ maintains only marginal equity differences compared to AAKK or AAQQ. The jacks create less counterfeiting potential than higher pairs.
Key advantages:
- Top set potential with aces
- Middle set possibilities with jacks
- Double-suited flush draws
- Balanced structure prevents card blocking
Strategic considerations become important with AAJJ. Connected boards favor AAJT over AAJJ due to straight potential. Players need heightened awareness against more connected holdings.
Raise this hand from any position preflop. Both heads-up and multiway scenarios suit AAJJ well. The double-suited component creates flush possibilities regardless of opponent count.
Trouble spots emerge on jack-high flops without aces. Middle set faces vulnerability against higher overpairs or sets. Players must balance value extraction against potential disasters.
AAJJ exemplifies PLO’s reward for structural cohesion. Two pairs plus double-suitedness create multiple winning paths. This combination outperforms most isolated high-card hands.
Proper AAJJ play impacts overall PLO win rates significantly. The hand maintains playability across diverse board textures. Disciplined aggression maximizes its profit potential.
AATT double suited
AATT double suited ranks fifth among the best PLO starting hands. This combination balances high pair strength with optimal straight potential.
Tens create fewer blockers than kings or queens. More straight combinations become possible when middle cards hit the flop. The gap between aces and tens opens numerous winning pathways.
Double-suitedness provides approximately 65% equity against identical unsuited hands. This equity advantage holds across heads-up and multiway scenarios.
Strategic applications:
- Raise from any position preflop
- Plays well heads-up and multiway
- Creates powerful ace-high flops with flush draws
- Maintains strength across diverse board textures
Ten-high flops require careful navigation. Middle set vulnerability exists against aggressive opponents. Opponents with higher overpairs or sets pose threats.
Straight-heavy boards demand heightened awareness. Connected holdings might hold significant equity against unimproved aces and tens.
AATT doubldouble-suitede suited demonstrates why structural cohesion matters in PLO. High pair potential plus flush possibilities create multiple winning combinations. This hand performs consistently across various game situations.
The tens provide unique value compared to other premium ace hands. Less blocking means more straight opportunities. More opportunities mean better postflop playability.
AA99 double suited
AA99 double suited ranks sixth among the best PLO starting hands. This combination balances premium aces with mid-strength nines plus double-suited potential.
The structural advantage becomes clear when examining hand components:
- Pocket aces provide top set possibilities
- Nines create middle set potential without blocking potential straights
- Double-suitedness offers flush draws in two suits
Equity performance remains strong across most matchups. Double-suited versions maintain approximately 65% equity against identical unsuited hands. This hand outperforms 99.9% of possible starting combinations.
Playability varies significantly by board texture. Ace-high flops typically produce top set with flush draws. Nine-high boards create middle set vulnerability against higher pairs.
Strategic considerations include:
- Raise preflop from any position
- Performs well heads-up and multiway
- Exercise caution on nine-high flops with heavy action
- Navigate carefully on connected boards between aces and nines
Middle set scenarios require particular attention. Opponents holding higher overpairs or sets create dangerous situations. Connected boards favor hands with better straight potential.
The hand demonstrates why structural cohesion matters in PLO. High pair potential combines with medium pair backup and flush possibilities. Multiple improvement paths create profit opportunities across various board textures.
Players should recognize this hand’s transition point in the hierarchy. While still premium, it requires more careful postflop navigation than ultra-premium holdings.
AA75 double suited
AA75 double suited ranks seventh among elite PLO starting hands. This hand breaks the pattern of high double-paired holdings.
Aces provide the foundation. The 7-5 connector creates disguised straight potential. Unlike AAKK or AAQQ, these lower cards avoid blocking each other’s improvement paths.
Players holding AA75 can flop hidden straights opponents never see coming. Broadway cards miss this hand completely. Middle rundowns connect powerfully with the 7-5 component.
Double suits remain crucial. This configuration holds approximately 50% greater equity than unsuited versions. Without both suits, AA75 loses significant value.
Ace-high flops create top set possibilities. Low straight boards favor the connector aspect. This dual nature makes AA75 particularly deceptive.
Raise this hand from most positions. Multiway pots suit its multiple improvement paths. Exercise caution when only small cards connect—opponents holding higher connectors pose threats.
The 7-5 combination works differently than premium pairs. These cards create straight draws without blocking ace-high possibilities. Opponents struggle to put you on low straights.
AA75 demonstrates PLO’s core principle: coordination matters more than raw strength. High pairs plus connected small cards create profitable combinations.
Players transitioning from Hold’em often undervalue these mixed holdings. The low cards appear weak. Yet this hand consistently outperforms many “prettier” combinations. Strategic value emerges through deception. Opponents expect aces with high kickers. The 7-5 surprise creates profitable situations others miss.
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JT98 double suited
JT98 double suited breaks the pattern among elite PLO hands. This rundown holds no pairs yet ranks eighth overall.
Perfect connectedness drives this hand’s power. Four consecutive cards create multiple straight possibilities. When flops contain connected cards, JT98 forms powerful drawing combinations.
Wrap potential separates this hand from paired holdings. Connected boards generate straight draws with massive out counts. Some wraps provide up to 20 outs to complete straights.
Double-suitedness amplifies the hand’s strength significantly. Two flush possibilities complement the straight potential. Players frequently make nut flushes when suited cards appear.
JT98 double suited competes surprisingly well against premium pairs. Against AAKK double suited, equity remains competitive in heads-up situations. This demonstrates connected cards can rival high pairs.
Hold’em converts often undervalue rundown hands. High card value seems more attractive than coordination. PLO professionals recognize connected hands outperform disconnected holdings regularly.
Strategic play involves raising from most positions. Connected flops create multiple drawing combinations simultaneously. Players often hold strong hands while drawing to better ones.
The hand excels on two-suited or connected boards. These textures activate multiple improvement possibilities. Freeroll situations develop where current strength combines with future potential.
Board texture matters significantly with JT98 double suited. Rainbow, disconnected flops reduce the hand’s effectiveness. Connected or suited boards maximize its potential substantially.
This rundown exemplifies PLO’s coordination principle. Four cards working together outperform isolated strength. Perfect connectedness plus double-suitedness creates tremendous flexibility.
KKQQ double suited
KKQQ double suited ranks ninth among the best PLO starting hands. Two high pairs plus double-suitedness create multiple winning pathways.
Kings face significant challenges in PLO. Against AAKK double suited, KKQQ holds only 31% equity. Aces dominate kings more severely than most players realize.
This equity disadvantage demands careful preflop strategy. Kings require strong supporting cards for aggressive play. Four-card Omaha makes kings-versus-aces confrontations frequent. Getting kings all-in preflop often represents a mistake, not a cooler.
Double-suitedness provides approximately 50% greater equity versus unsuited versions. This feature partially compensates for kings’ inherent weakness against aces.
Position becomes crucial with KKQQ double suited. Late position allows aggressive raising strategies. Early position requires more caution, especially against tight three-bettors.
Hold’em players consistently overvalue kings in PLO. The transition requires recognizing kings’ relative weakness. KKQQ remains powerful against non-ace holdings.
Queen-high flops create top set opportunities with redraw potential. Yet hidden aces remain a constant threat. Boards showing potential aces deserve extra attention.
Successful KKQQ play requires balancing strength against vulnerability. The hand dominates most holdings while struggling against aces. Position and opponent tendencies determine optimal strategy.
KKJJ double suited
KKJJ double suited completes the top ten best PLO starting hands. This hand combines two strong pairs with double-suited potential. Multiple winning pathways exist throughout hand development.
KKJJ creates challenges for NLHE converts. Kings dominate in Hold’em preflop scenarios. PLO requires careful handling of kings. Aces appear frequently in four-card variants.
Equity disadvantages become clear against premium ace hands. KKJJ maintains modest equity versus AAKK double-suited. Evaluate opponents’ holdings before committing significant chips preflop. Getting kings versus aces isn’t a cooler—it’s a mistake.
Double-suitedness enhances this hand’s value substantially. Flush possibilities exist in two different suits. Additional winning pathways compensate for weaknesses against aces.
KKJJ performs best when:
- Opponents unlikely hold aces
- Position allows easier postflop decisions
- Jack connects on flop with flush possibilities
Exercise caution against significant preflop aggression. Tight players demonstrate narrow raising ranges. Aces become more likely in these scenarios. Disaster situations can develop quickly.
Position plays an essential role with this hand. Late position allows optimal raising strategy. The hand remains powerful against most holdings. Aces represent the primary threat.
KKJJ demonstrates PLO’s strategic complexity perfectly. Premium pairs require nuanced preflop decisions. Kings stay extremely strong—except against aces. Four-card variants change everything.
Equity and Variance: PLO’s Mathematical Reality
Understanding best Omaha starting hands requires grasping equity distributions and variance. These mathematical concepts determine both short-term swings and long-term profits.
Compressed Equity in PLO
PLO hands cluster much closer in strength than Hold’em hands. Pocket aces in Hold’em dominate pocket kings with 83% equity. AAKK double-suited holds only 33% against AAJT double-suited. This represents just a 6% edge versus Hold’em’s 66% advantage.
Compressed equity makes PLO different. Players rarely enjoy overwhelming preflop advantages. Even premium holdings struggle to exceed 65% equity against specific opponents. Four cards create numerous combinations and drawing possibilities.
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Equity Distribution Patterns
Omaha starting hands distribute equity more evenly than Hold’em. The strongest possible hand rarely exceeds 60% heads-up. Additional opponents further diminish these advantages.
Postflop equity remains tightly compressed. Drawing hands frequently hold substantial equity against made hands. Strong hands often become slight favorites against multiple-out draws.
Variance Impact on Win Rates
PLO creates significantly higher variance than Hold’em. Variance ranges from 120-160 compared to NLHE’s 75-120. Skilled players should expect more extreme bankroll swings.
Combat variance effectively:
- Maintain larger bankrolls (100 buy-ins minimum)
- Develop mental resilience for downswings
- Focus on long-term results over short-term outcomes
- Recognize downswings lasting hundreds of thousands of hands
Successful PLO players minimize losses during downswings. They maximize gains during upswings. This balance represents the cornerstone of profitable strategy.
PLO’s mathematical reality demands different bankroll management. The compressed equity and increased variance require disciplined approaches. Players who understand these concepts gain significant advantages over those who don’t.
Preflop Strategy: What to Play and What to Fold
Profitable PLO starts with disciplined preflop decisions. Understanding the best Omaha starting hands provides foundation knowledge. Position and opponent types determine which hands become profitable.
Play coordinated hands only
Four-card coordination drives all PLO hand selection decisions. Disconnected cards create expensive problems postflop. Focus on hands containing:
- Four high cards (9 or above)
- Double-suited combinations
- Connected sequences with minimal gaps
Solver analysis shows low cards (below 5) perform poorly in most spots. These hands get folded from all positions except the button. Marginal holdings tempt players but create long-term losses.
Fold weak kings and isolated pairs
Kings demand careful handling in PLO. Monker Solver data reveals only 78% of single-suited KKxx hands profit from UTG. Many king combinations should be folded from early position.
Isolated pairs without support cards leak money consistently. QQ93 rainbow becomes virtually unplayable. Even strong pairs need complementary structure—QQJ9 double-suited outperforms QQ72 significantly.
Second-nut flush draws in multiway pots create dominated situations. Hands lacking nut potential struggle against multiple opponents.
Position determines raising strategy
Early position requires premium holdings only. High pairs with double-suitedness provide necessary strength for out-of-position play. Tight ranges prevent difficult postflop decisions.
Late position allows wider ranges. Speculative hands like JT987 single-suited become profitable. Button raises can include hands like 2345 suited.
Multi-limped pots require different approaches. Limping behind with polarized ranges often outperforms isolation raises. Building pots with marginal holdings creates postflop complications against multiple opponents.
Position provides information advantage. Players acting last make better decisions throughout the hand. This edge becomes magnified in PLO’s complex postflop scenarios.
Position Decides Profit in PLO
Position matters more in PLO than Hold’em. Players who master positional play win bigger pots. They lose smaller ones.
Why position creates edges
The pot-limit structure makes position crucial. Acting last controls pot size on every street. PLO’s draw-heavy nature amplifies this advantage.
Players hold considerable equity with most hands. Position helps realize this equity effectively. Information becomes power when boards contain straight and flush possibilities.
Board textures feature complex draw combinations. Straights, flushes, and full houses appear frequently. Acting last provides insights before committing chips.
Tighten ranges out of position
Early position demands premium holdings. Focus on double-suited aces and top-tier hands. Marginal hands become unprofitable without positional advantage.
Bet sizing becomes problematic out of position. The pot-limit structure limits protection bets. Strong hands need immediate betting for value and protection.
Slowplaying backfires from early position. Opponents take free cards when you check-raise. Lead betting proves more effective with strong holdings.
Avoiding positional disasters
“Eye candy” hands create trouble without position. Small double-suited combinations look attractive but play poorly. Discipline prevents these costly mistakes.
Multiway pots punish early position aggression. Bets into multiple opponents signal real strength. Fold marginal holdings against such action.
Position separates winning players from losers. Master this fundamental concept. Your win rate depends on it.
PLO Hand Selection Mastery
PLO differs fundamentally from Hold’em. Four-card coordination beats isolated card strength. The best starting hands combine nuttiness, connectedness, and suitedness.
AAKK double-suited holds only modest advantages over other premium hands. This compressed equity creates different strategic demands. Position becomes more critical than raw hand strength.
Double-suited hands consistently outperform their unsuited counterparts. Connected cards without gaps create powerful straight possibilities. These structural advantages matter more than high card value alone.
Successful PLO players exercise strict discipline. They fold marginal hands from early position, expand ranges from the button, and recognize when kings face trouble against aggressive opponents.
Variance runs higher in PLO than Hold’em. Bankroll management requires larger cushions. Mental resilience becomes essential for long-term success. Focus on process over short-term results.
Hand selection mistakes cost more in PLO. The equity gaps are smaller. The decisions occur more frequently. Getting preflop play right sets up profitable postflop situations.
Master these fundamentals first:
- Play coordinated four-card hands
- Respect position significantly
- Avoid isolated pairs and danglers
- Build appropriate bankroll reserves
PLO rewards patient, disciplined players who understand structural hand values. Study the top ten starting hands. Practice recognizing coordination patterns. Apply position-based range adjustments consistently.
The learning curve is steep but profitable. Players who master PLO hand selection gain significant edges over recreational opponents. Start with tight ranges. Expand gradually as experience grows.
Your PLO journey begins with proper hand selection. These principles provide the foundation for long-term success.
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FAQs
The best PLO starting hand typically combines high pairs, connectedness, and double-suitedness. The best hands have all four cards working together, with potential for nut flushes, high straights, and sets. Hands like AAKK double-suited or AAJT double-suited are considered premium.
In PLO, equity is much more compressed between hands compared to Hold’em. Even the best starting hands rarely have more than a 60-65% equity advantage against random holdings. This leads to more variance and closer preflop decisions in PLO.
Position is crucial in PLO due to the pot-limit betting structure and draw-heavy nature of the game. Acting last allows better pot control and more informed decision-making, especially on complex board textures. Players should tighten their ranges significantly when out of position.
Common mistakes include overvaluing isolated pairs, playing too many hands out of position, and failing to adjust bet sizing properly. Many players also struggle with hand reading in PLO due to the increased number of possible combinations. Avoiding these pitfalls is key to long-term success.
Beginners should focus on understanding hand selection, positional play, and postflop fundamentals. Studying preflop charts, analyzing hand histories, and practicing with low-stakes play can be effective. While expensive training sites can be helpful, there are also many free resources available for those on a budget.
