In Texas Hold’em, Preflop equities are often cut and dry—Pocket Aces are an 80% favorite over almost anything. In Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), the math is entirely different. Because you hold four cards, the equities run much closer together. It is rare to be more than a 65% favorite against a playable hand.
Understanding these “Hot and Cold” preflop percentages is vital for knowing when to get your stack in and when to exercise caution. Use our free PLO Equity Scenario Tool below to check the odds of common hand matchups instantly.
How to Use the Calculator
This tool is designed to give you a quick reference for the most frequent preflop scenarios you will face at the PLO tables. Instead of entering exact cards (which takes time), simply select the Hand Structure.
- Select “Hero Hand”: Choose the type of hand you are holding.
- AAxx Double Suited: The gold standard (e.g., As Ad Ks Kd).
- AAxx Rainbow: Aces with no suit coordination (weak).
- Rundown: Four connecting cards (e.g., T987).
- Select “Villain Hand”: Choose the type of hand you are up against (or the range you put your opponent on).
- Click “Get Preflop Odds”: The calculator will show your estimated equity (win percentage).
Common PLO Equity Examples
To be a profitable Omaha player, you must memorize the approximate equities of major confrontations. Here are a few key examples that this calculator handles:
1. The Classic Flip: AAxx vs. Rundown
This is the most defining matchup in PLO. You have Aces, and your opponent has a smooth wrap like J-T-9-8.
- The Matchup: AAxx (Double Suited) vs. T-9-8-7 (Double Suited).
- The Equity: Approximately 62% vs 38%.
- Takeaway: While Aces are ahead, they are not invincible. You will lose this pot nearly 40% of the time.
2. Aces vs. Kings (Domination)
Getting it all-in preflop with Kings is dangerous in PLO specifically because of this scenario.
- The Matchup: AAxx vs KKxx.
- The Equity: Approximately 68% vs 32%.
- Takeaway: This is one of the few times you have a massive advantage in PLO. However, if the Aces are “Rainbow” (bad suits) and the Kings are Double Suited, the gap shrinks significantly.
3. Quality vs. Trash
What happens when a premium hand runs into a loose player playing random cards?
- The Matchup: AAxx (Double Suited) vs. Random Trash (disconnected, unsuited).
- The Equity: Approximately 85% vs 15%.
- Takeaway: This is the “best case” scenario in Omaha, but notice that even “trash” still has a 15% chance to crack Aces—much higher than in Hold’em.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does “Double Suited” (ds) mean?
In PLO, “Double Suited” means your four cards contain two cards of one suit and two cards of another (e.g., Ah Kh and Js Ts). This is powerful because it gives you two separate flush draws. Double Suited hands typically add 5-7% equity compared to Rainbow (unsuited) hands.
What is a “Rundown”?
A Rundown is a hand consisting of four sequential cards, such as 5-6-7-8 or J-Q-K-A. These hands are powerful because they can hit multiple straight draws and wrap around the board texture.
Why is PLO equity closer than Hold’em?
Because every player holds 4 cards, the number of potential 2-card combinations that can make a hand on the flop increases drastically. Even a weak hand usually has some connectivity or “blockers” that give it a fighting chance against a premium hand.
Is AAxx always a preflop raise?
Generally, yes. However, “Bad Aces” (Rainbow Aces with uncoordinated side cards, like As Ac 9d 4h) are tricky. They have good preflop equity but play poorly post-flop because if they don’t hit a set, they are hard to defend against multi-way action.