More
on Wraps
Wraps are so important in Omaha high as to deserve further
explanation:
If a wrap hand contains a "gap"
(a jump in sequence, such as the missing jack between the
ten and queen in 9-10-Q-K), it's better that the gap occurs
at the lower end of the range rather than the higher. Since
any made straight is vulnerable to a higher one (unless
it's ace-high), your hand is better if you can keep anyone
from drawing out on you by covering the high end of the
sequence.
For example, if your
wrap hand is 7-9-10-J, the gap between the seven and nine
can't hurt you if the flop is 5-6-8, since a nine or ten
on the turn or river will simply give you a higher straight.
However, if your hand is 5-6-7-9, you can easily lose to
an opponent's higher straight later in the hand.
Because of the large number of straights that can be made,
wraps are very playable Omaha hands. In fact, when you flop
a wrap with twenty 11 Outs," (possible turn or river
cards that help your hand by completing the draw), you're
an odds-on favorite to make your hand.
In Texas hold'em, the maximum number of
cards to complete your straight is eight. In Omaha - since
you hold four cards rather than two -you have up to twenty
ways to make a straight. If you begin with J-T7-6 and the
flop is 9-8-3, you'll make a straight with a queen, jack,
ten, seven, six or five. Four of those cards are in your
hand, but with two more board cards to be dealt, you'll
make a straight more than seventy percent of the time! So
happy wrapping!
