Choose the Right Decision on a Draw Heavy Omaha High Board

Let's see an example. The game is six handed, $0.25/$0.50 blind level Omaha high. Your position is the hijack and you get dealt the 9dTds8Tc. The UTG raises to $1.75 and you make an easy call with connected cards, containing a pair and a flush draw, not even mentioning that you have position on your opponent. The button calls and the two blinds fold. The pot is $6 and the stack sizes are the following:

• UTG: $101.75

• You: $31.85

• Button: $84.81

The flop is: JdTh2d. This is a very interesting and at the same time great flop for your multi- draw Omaha high hand! You have a set of tens, a jack high flush draw and an open-ended straight draw. The problem is that your set is losing against a set of jacks, your flush draw is losing against higher flushes and your straight draw can only have the nuts with three cards (7h7s7c). Although you have to consider all these factors your hand is still strong enough with all the different draws and a set that it is impossible to fold. Basically it does not matter what your opponents have, you will not fold your hand. You have to bet, raise or reraise no matter what. You may even win right away. If you cannot take down the pot then you should push all-in with such a strong Omaha high holding.

The UTG checks, you bet half the pot ($3) and the Button folds. You could have bet bigger but your decision is OK. You have to vary your play. Now it is the UTG;s turn again who reraises to $15. Hmmm, this is an interesting play. Now we know he has a strong hand. If he has the current nuts or the set of jacks then you can win with a straight or a flush. You have very many outs in this case.

You reraise all-in with your remaining $27.10 and your opponent calls. Your opponent shows Qh6sJsJc for a set of jacks. You have to hit a straight or flush while dodging the full house (the Ts makes quad tens for you, also winning you the hand in case the remaining jack does not come). This is one of the very rare situations when the odds are 50%-50%! The turn is the Kc making the odds 65%-35% in favor of your opponent. The Jh on the river gives quads to your opponent and you lose the hand.

What can you do in such a situation? Not much. You had a very strong multi draw hand in Omaha high and in such situations you have to push all-in. You lost the battle but did not lose the war.