A pot-limit Omaha/8 player wrote a question to another publication that was answered by the very knowledgeable author and player Bob Ciaffone. The question dealt primarily with, "I don't know how to play unsuited aces without good low cards or face cards (like A-A-9-9 or A-A-7-J)." While I agree with most of what Mr. Ciaffone wrote, I take exception with two of his statements.

Pot-limit Omaha/8 differs from fixed-limit Omaha/8. In PLO/8 you want to begin with a starting hand that offers a high win rate as well as a high winning percentage. The best way to rank these hands utilizes expected value-the win rate multiplied by the average net win. The product of these two values takes into account both how often you will win and the magnitude of the dollars won.

Mr. Ciaffone wrote "I do not view A-A-9-9 as better than A-A-J-9." The chart above and to the right (Not Shown) shows the win percent, win rate and expected value for three hands. Why three? The writer questions A-A-7-J while Mr. Ciaffone addressed A-A-J-9 in his response. I would not call a bet with any of these starting hands let alone raise pre-flop or call a pre-flop raise. The A-A-9-9 is 50 percent better than A-A-9-J in every category mentioned above. It is not better than the hand the reader questioned, the A-A-7-J. The small profitability of A-A-7-J certainly renders it non playable, except from the big blind in an un-raised pot.

PLO/8 is primarily played to scoop the pot, just as Omaha/8. You are best able to scoop when you have a two-way hand, and can make the best low as well as the best high. Remember, there is always a high hand winner. The fact that most Omaha high-low games have a qualifier, usually eight or better, offers a twist that renders certain high-only hands a unique opportunity to scoop.

Double-suited aces accompanied by two low cards are great two-way hands. It offers the possibility of making either of two nut flushes and other high hands, such as straights, full houses and sets. There is a unique situation that develops when you are in late position and there are a number of callers in front of you, when you hold A-A combined with K-K down through T-T double suited. The situation is even improved when the pot is raised or re-raised with a number of callers in front of you.

It is common for players to raise or call a raise with a good low draw, and the more callers, the more you may assume a large number of low cards are in their hands. If the majority of low cards are in their hands while you hold two aces, the probability of the flop containing low cards decreases. This will increase the value of your high holdings. What will A-2-3-4 rainbow do with a flop of K-J-9 when you raise?

The statement I most object to in Mr. Ciffone's response is, "Starting aggressively with a hand containing aces that cannot win low is not recommended." For reference, I have listed the top starting hands containing a pair of aces that cannot possibly make a low. They are ranked by win rate and include the EV value too.

As with any starting hand in any form of poker, everything is dependent upon the situation. If I am sitting on the button with a family pot developing in front of me, I will call or raise with A-A-T-T through A-A-K-K and hope for a flop of high cards.

This action will almost certainly thin the field with a follow up bet or raise if no low cards flop and possibly have the same effect if a single low card appears.

If two low cards appear I would proceed cautiously, especially with ranks of six or less, and muck my hand if two or three suited cards appeared with none of my suit, unless I flopped a full house or a draw to a nut full house.

Although the win rate of these high-only hands are far less than that of the most powerful low starting hands, some of the other factors mentioned will lead to large pots that may be scoopers.

So what have we learned? Some high-only hands containing a pair of aces may be played aggressively in PLO or fixed-limit Omaha/8.

Sam Mudaro, BA, MBA, is a practicing tax accountant and financial executive with 35 years of analytical business expertise. He uses simulation software to analyze and develop strategies for Omaha/8 and other forms of poker. Reach Sam at: realguru2003@yahoo.com.