PLO Equity: Omaha Matchups
Pot-Limit Omaha equities run much closer than Hold’em. The best starting hand is only about a 61/39 favourite against a strong rundown. Every matchup below is exact for the cards shown, calculated over all possible boards (1,086,008 heads-up preflop).
Preflop Matchups
| Matchup | Hands and equity |
|---|---|
| AAKK double-suited vs JT98 double-suitedThe best PLO hand against a top rundown is only about 61/39. In Hold’em, aces vs kings is 81/19. |
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| Aces with weak side cards vs JT98 double-suitedBare aces are close to a coin flip against a good rundown. |
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| AA72 double-suited vs KKQQ double-suitedSuited aces beat a double-paired hand about 58/42. |
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| AAKK vs AAQQ, both double-suitedWhen both players hold aces, the higher second pair adds little: 51/49. |
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| KKJJ double-suited vs 7654 double-suitedEven a low rundown keeps 41% against two high pairs. |
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| AAKK vs JT98 vs QQ76In a three-way pot the best hand wins less than half the time. |
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Flop Spots
Big draws in Omaha often have as much equity as made hands.
| Matchup | Hands and equity |
|---|---|
| Top set vs a big wrap drawFlop 8♥7♦2♣On the flop, a big wrap is almost even with top set. |
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| Nut flush draw and a pair vs top two pairFlop K♥9♥4♣The draw has 47% against top two pair, close to even. |
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PLO Starting Hands vs a Random Hand
| Hand | Cards | Equity vs random |
|---|---|---|
| AAKK double-suitedA♠K♠A♥K♥ | A♠K♠A♥K♥ | 70.6% |
| JT98 double-suitedJ♠10♠9♥8♥ | J♠10♠9♥8♥ | 55.6% |
| KKQQ double-suitedK♠Q♠K♥Q♥ | K♠Q♠K♥Q♥ | 68.4% |
| AA72 rainbow (no two suited)A♠A♥7♦2♣ | A♠A♥7♦2♣ | 61.1% |
| 7654 double-suited7♠6♠5♥4♥ | 7♠6♠5♥4♥ | 47.1% |
What the Numbers Show
- No hand is a big favourite preflop. AAKK double-suited has 71% against a random hand, compared with 85% for aces in Hold’em.
- Bare aces are overrated. Aces with weak side cards are close to 50/50 against a good double-suited rundown.
- Multiway pots flatten everything. Three-way, the best hand wins under half the pot.
- Draws can be favourites. On the flop, a big wrap is almost even with top set, and a nut flush draw with a pair has 47% against top two pair.
Why Omaha odds behave this way is covered in the Omaha odds guide. Playing five cards? See the PLO5 matchup table.
How These Numbers Were Calculated
Each matchup was calculated with the hand evaluator from Handsight’s equity engine by checking every possible board, so the numbers are exact for those cards. A split pot counts as a share of the pot. The “vs a random hand” numbers come from 2 million random deals and are accurate to about ±0.1 percentage points.
Suits matter: the same ranks with different suits can move equity by a point or two. Last calculated .
