You look at your first card and it's an ace. Your second card is a five. Would you like your next card to be a six, giving you three low cards, or a jack that provides two low cards and two high cards? Let's take a look at the chart at below for the answer.
The answer is clear. You would want to see a six. With A-5-6 you have a higher average net win across all methods of being suited. While A-5-J is only profitable with ten cards, A-5-6 is profitable with any of 23 possible cards higher in rank then a six. This does not take into account all the possible combinations with a card less than a six.
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One notation under the hand column makes its first appearance here, "A-6, T-Q" is read: A-6 with a ten thru a queen as the third card. We are actually looking at three starting hand combinations: A-6-T, A-6-J and A-6-Q.
The chart is mundane except for A-8-9, which is not playable when double suited, but is playable when single suited with the ace suited to the nine. The ten offers the same straight possibilities no matter how the hand is suited. The only explanation for this apparent anomaly is that the hand, when double suited, is harder to get away from and therefore you are not chasing a poor flush.
This chart lists all playable hands without a pair or better and that do not contain an ace.
The chart should dismiss a number of fallacies that hold 'em players bring to the game. Four high cards, regardless of how suited unless containing a pair or an ace, are basically not playable. Straight draws and even flush draws don't offer enough help. The only playable high-only hand is T-J-Q-K, and only when double suited, (DSHM) high to middle. The king must be suited to the jack, and the queen suited to the ten. This allows you to draw to the two highest flushes your hand may form in addition to the nut high straight. This hand has an average net win of only $1.23. The DSHL version of this starting hand has an average net loss of $-0.56.
For a deuce-low to be profitable, it mostly needs to be combined with a trey. It works with a four, but only if the third card is a five and is double suited with a fourth card that may complete a high straight. This is another problem for hold 'em players. When then do learn that Omaha /8 is a low card game they begin to look at a deuce in the same light as an ace. This is instilled from hold 'em being a high card game in which kings and queens are cherished almost as much as aces.
The 2-3-Q needs both a king and to be double suited to become a profitable starting hand. Even at that it will only return a measly $0.25 and $0.14. While a profitable starting hand, 3-4-5-6 returns only $1.14 when double suited high to low (DSHL), and $0.95 when double suited high to middle (DSHM).
Other than 2-3-4 and 2-3-5 other non-paired starting hands that do not contain an ace may simply be ignored without losing much advantage.
We are reaching the end. This series will conclude with a summary of what we have learned. I will finish putting the book together for all of you that requested a copy. Anyone who wants to order a copy, please send email to realguru2003@yahoo.com with "book" in the subject line.
So what have we learned? Starting hands that do not contain at least a pair or an ace are basically non playable unless they begin with a 2-3-4 or 2-3-5.
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.
