Quick question for the omaha players.

I've recently started playing omaha cash games in lieu of holdem. I find the player pool to be pretty weak at the micro stakes and have certainly enjoyed the change in games and learning curve that's come along with it. I still play holdem, but only MTT's.

My question as stated above is simple, but I'm sure has a more complex answer than one would think since no starting hand has a big equity gap over another preflop. Is it ever a profitable play to flat aces or kings preflop? The reason I ask is because I see it all the time and it always leaves me scratching my head wondering why.

I understand that it may not always be profitable to 3, 4 or 5 bet a high pocket pair in omaha, but flatting the big blind or even just calling a bet seems like a losing play since you would always have the equity edge preflop (wouldn't you?). I'm sure your other 2 cards are extremely important in this scenario as well. Like double suited with AA10J is a monster, but AA94 off suit would be borderline average/slight equity edge over standard range call hands.

Is flatting a way of polarizing your play with these holdings or are you just leaving money on the table?

I hope this makes sense. I'm just trying to gain a better understanding of why players do this. Because to me it seems like a losing play over time. I've had good success playing those hands aggressively and I don't understand why a player would do this...but that's why I'm here.

Thanks in advance for your comments. I look forward to reading them.

I’m no Omaha expert, but I don’t think that it is profitable.

In PLO it’s impossible to slowplay a hand as weak as top pair, so flatting or limping with AA or KK is just going to give an opportunity for players with wide ranges to enter, making it much harder to read your opponents post flop.

I agree big time with you that it’s not a good idea to 4 or 5 bet with a big pair, but a raise is awfully necessary.

Originally Posted by guccipix

I’m no Omaha expert, but I don’t think that it is profitable.

In PLO it’s impossible to slowplay a hand as weak as top pair, so flatting or limping with AA or KK is just going to give an opportunity for players with wide ranges to enter, making it much harder to read your opponents post flop.

I agree big time with you that it’s not a good idea to 4 or 5 bet with a big pair, but a raise is awfully necessary.

Thanks for your response. Truth is I see players that I've come to somewhat respect in The game doing so. Players that I have a large hand history with and believe to be winning players.

I just want to be sure there isn't something I'm missing here so your perspective is extremely helpful in at least reinforcing what I think is right.

I get flatting with qq or jj on occasion as well as 3 and even 4 betting those pairs every now and then to keep them guessing, but I feel like aa or kk should only go up.