Understanding preflop poker ranges is a crucial skill, which many poker players lack. Most poker lovers have decent knowledge of which hands to play in No Limit Hold’em, but they fail to notice the poker ranges of other players.
NLH is pretty well studied poker game type and often there are clear guidance on how to approach, most preflop poker situations. But when it comes to Omaha and especially the 5 and 6-handed variants, it quickly becomes a mess. Not to mention games like Hi Lo and Short Deck.
Only because PLO is a game of huge variance, does not mean you should play any 4 cards or have some favorite hands, with which ” you always hit big on the flop” . The preflop poker ranges are there, not only to help you realize a win, but also to assist you in avoiding huge losses and coolers.
How often have you been with a bad hand, which performs decently on the current board texture, only to find out, you were up against much stronger holdings and had next to 0% chance all along. In Omaha, it is especially important to have discipline and stick to a certain preflop poker ranges. It is due to the simple fact, that people tend to play there more emotionally, chasing more draws and playing with much higher VPIP%.
Let’s dissect game types one by one and provide some general guidance on the preflop poker ranges, you should be playing on each format :
Table of Contents
No Limit Holdem
Early Position (Under the Gun and UTG+1):
- Play premium hands such as high pairs (A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J), A-K and A-Q.
- Consider playing suited connectors (e.g. 9-8 suited, 8-7 suited) and suited aces (e.g. A-J suited, A-T suited) for potential flush and straight opportunities.
Middle Position
- Continue to play premium hands as well as early position. Extend the range with Suited Connectors, Suited Aces, and Suit One Gap (e.g. Q-J Suit, J-T Suit).
- Consider playing middle pairs (T-T, 9-9, 8-8) and some good Broadway hands (K-Q suit, A-J suit, etc.).
Late position (cutoff and button):
- You will be able to play a wider range of hands compared to your previous position.
- Continue to play Premium Hands, Sweet Connectors, Sweet Aces and Sweet Broadway Hands.
- Add suited one gapper, suited two gapper (e.g. T-8 suited, 8-6 suited) and some off-suit Broadway hands (e.g. K-Q off-suit, A-T off-suit). Use your advantage to steal blinds and look for opportunities to play speculative hands.
Small blinds:
- Play tighter than cutoffs and buttons, but still consider to 3-bet premium hands, strong suited connectors and suited aces.
- Be cautious with weaker holdings and avoid getting trapped out of position.
Big blind:
- Like the small blind, it is disadvantaged and already invested. Be more lenient when defending the big blinds from steals and raises from other players.
- You can play with a wider range of hands than the small blind, but avoid defending with the weakest holdings.
Omaha 4 Cards
Early Position (UTG):
- Play premium hands with double-suited aces (e.g., A-A-K-K, A-A-Q-Q) and strong connected cards (e.g., A-K-Q-J, A-A-J-T).
- Consider playing high pairs (A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J) with two coordinated suits and potential for nut flushes or straight flushes.
Middle Position:
- Continue playing premium hands as in early position.
- Expand your range to include double-suited broadway hands (e.g., K-Q-J-T, A-K-Q-J) and high pairs with suited connectors (e.g., A-A-9-8, K-K-Q-J).
- Consider playing some speculative hands like suited connectors and suited one-gappers with the potential for strong draws.
Late Position (Cutoff and Button):
- Play a wider range of hands compared to earlier positions.
- Continue playing premium hands, double-suited broadway hands, and high pairs with suited connectors.
- Add more suited connectors, suited one-gappers, and suited two-gappers (e.g., Q-J-T-9, 9-8-7-6) to take advantage of your positional advantage.
- Look for opportunities to steal the blinds and play speculative hands.
Small Blind:
- Play tighter than the cutoff and button but still consider premium hands, strong double-suited broadway hands, and high pairs with suited connectors.
- Be cautious with weaker holdings and avoid getting trapped out of position.
Big Blind:
- Similar to the small blind, you have a positional disadvantage and are already invested.
- Defend your big blind more liberally against steals and raises from other players.
- Play a wider range of hands compared to the small blind but be cautious with weaker holdings.
Omaha 5 Cards
Early Position (UTG) :
- Play premium hands with double-suited aces (e.g., A-A-K-K-Q, A-A-Q-Q-J) and strong connected cards (e.g., A-K-Q-J-T, A-A-J-T-9).
- Consider playing high pairs (A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J) with two coordinated suits and potential for nut flushes or straight flushes.
- Look for hands with potential for both straight and flush draws.
Middle Position:
- Continue playing premium hands as in early position.
- Expand your range to include double-suited broadway hands (e.g., K-Q-J-T-9, A-K-Q-J-T) and high pairs with suited connectors (e.g., A-A-9-8-7, K-K-Q-J-T).
- Consider playing suited connectors and suited one-gappers with the potential for strong draws.
- Look for opportunities to play hands with nut potential.
Late Position (Cutoff and Button):
- Play a wider range of hands compared to earlier positions.
- Continue playing premium hands, double-suited broadway hands, and high pairs with suited connectors.
- Add more suited connectors, suited one-gappers, and suited two-gappers (e.g., Q-J-T-9-8, 9-8-7-6-5) to take advantage of your positional advantage.
- Look for opportunities to steal the blinds and risk some marginal hands.
- Be mindful of the texture of the community cards and potential for nut draws.
Small Blind:
- Play tighter than the cutoff and button but you can 3-bet approximately 2/3rd of your late position range.
Big Blind:
- Similar to the small blind, you have a positional disadvantage and are already invested. Defend your big blind more liberally against steals and raises from other players. You can add some lower connected cards, especially if they are suited.
Omaha 6 Cards
UTG
- Play premium hands with high pairs (A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J) combined with strong connected cards (A-K-Q-J, A-A-K-Q, etc.).
- Consider playing some hands with two pairs and suited connectors that have potential for nut straight or flush draws (e.g., A-A-2-3, K-K-Q-J suited).
Middle Positions:
- Continue playing premium hands as in early position.
- Add a wider range of suited connectors and double-suited hands that have potential for strong draws (e.g., A-2-3-4, K-Q-J-T double-suited).
- Consider playing suited ace hands with coordinated cards (e.g., A-9-8-7, A-Q-J-T).
Late Positions (Cutoff and Button):
- Expand your starting hand range to include a wider variety of hands.
- Play premium hands as in early and middle positions.
- Add more suited connectors, double-suited hands, and suited aces with less coordination (e.g., A-5-6-7, 7-8-9-T double-suited).
- Consider playing suited one-gapped and two-gapped connectors (e.g., Q-J-T-8, 9-8-7-5) for the potential of straight and flush possibilities.
SB
- Play tighter than the cutoff and button but play the upper half of the late positon range with aggression, by 3-betting and 4-betting it
- Avoid check calling check calling post flop.
BB
- Defend with the majority of the hands, but always try to have 1 suited ace, to be able to draw to at least one nut hand.
Short Deck (6+)
Early Position (Under the Gun ):
- Play premium hands with high pairs (A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J) and strong broadway hands (A-K, A-Q, K-Q).
- Consider playing suited connectors (e.g., J-T suited, T-9 suited) and suited aces with smaller kickers (e.g., A-9 suited, A-8 suited) for potential flush and straight draws.
- Be cautious with medium and small pairs as they lose value due to fewer cards in the deck.
Middle Position:
- Expand your range to include more suited connectors and suited aces with smaller kickers.
- Consider playing some speculative hands like suited one-gappers (e.g., Q-J suited, J-T suited) and suited connectors with a gap (e.g., J-T, 9-8).
Late Position (Cutoff and Button):
- Continue playing premium hands, broadway hands, suited connectors, and suited aces.
- Add suited one-gappers, suited connectors with gaps, and some suited two-gappers (e.g., T-8 suited, 8-6 suited).
- Consider playing weaker suited aces (e.g., A-7 suited, A-6 suited) for potential flush possibilities.
- Take advantage of your positional advantage and look for opportunities to steal the blinds.
Small Blind:
- In the small blind, you have a positional disadvantage and are already invested in the pot.
- Play tighter than the cutoff and button but still consider premium hands, strong suited connectors, and suited aces.
- Play hands which are suitable for check raising and trapping ( who can make premium hands post-flop – pairs, combo draws.
Big Blind:
- Defend your big blind more liberally against steals and raises from other players, incorporate some small pairs.
- Avoid defending with widely disconnected cards.
PLO4 Hi LO
Early Position (Under the Gun ):
- Play premium hands with high potential for both the high and low ends, such as A-A-2-3 double-suited, A-2-3-4 double-suited, and A-A-2-x.
- Consider playing other strong starting hands with double-suited aces, two pairs, and suited connectors that can make both high and low hands.
Middle Position:
- Continue playing premium hands as in early position.
- Expand your range to include other double-suited hands with high-low potential, such as A-K-2-3 double-suited and A-2-K-Q double-suited.
- Consider playing suited connectors, suited aces, and other hands with good possibilities for making both high and low hands.
Late Position (Cutoff and Button):
- Play a wider range of hands compared to earlier positions.
- Continue playing premium hands, double-suited hands, and high-low potential hands.
- Add more suited connectors, suited aces, and suited broadway hands (e.g., K-Q-J-T) with the potential to make both high and low hands.
- Look for opportunities to steal the blinds and play speculative hands with good chances for scoop pots.
Small Blind:
- Play tighter than the cutoff and button but still consider premium hands, strong double-suited hands, and high-low potential hands.
Big Blind:
- Look for opportunities to scoop pots and consider playing hands with potential for both high and low hands.
Final Words on Poker Ranges
It is important to note that these preflop poker ranges are general guidelines and can be adjusted based on a variety of factors such as table dynamics, stack sizes, opponent tendencies + style of play, etc.
Tailoring your poker ranges and strategy to your specific playing conditions is critical to your success. Also keep an eye on the community his cards and adjust your decisions as the hand progresses.
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