Raising With A-2 Suited

In a recent column, I mentioned that I had raised on the button with an A-2 suited while playing in a loose Omaha high-low game. An E-mailer asked if I always raise from late position with an A-2 (in a loose Omaha high-low game).

My answer was that you can probably make a case for raising from late position with any A-2 whenever there have been numerous callers. But I like raising from late position with an A-2 if the ace is suited or with any other good high holding, simply because it could be the "big one" (the scooper) that I have been waiting for, and I would like to make the pot bigger.

By raising on the button, I double the size of the starting pot, and that big starting pot tends to keep more players in after the flop. If I manage to "scoop" just one of these big pots in a three-hour session, I figure to finish comfortably ahead.

Note that when you hold a suited ace, a deuce, and any two other cards, you will hit a good playable flop about half the time, where a playable flop is conservatively defined as having an already made hand or a multiple-card draw for the nut low or nut high.

To get a better feel for hitting the flop with a suited ace and a deuce, I recommend that you try the following simple exercise: Take the A 2 out of a normal deck of cards, along with two other not-so-good cards, such as a jack and a 7. Then, deal out the other 48 cards into 16 flops (16×3=48). Notice that, usually, five or six of the 16 flops have two or three low cards without an ace or deuce. One or two flops will contain two or three spades, and one or two flops will have some good high holding. Thus, usually eight or more flops are clearly playable.

In addition to the clearly playable flops, you will notice that there are often other flops that you would play if you could get in cheaply after the flop (when no one raises). For example, with a "combination hand" (see my book) flop with a gutshot ace-high straight draw, one spade and one low card, it would certainly be cost effective to see the fourth card for a single bet.

Are there any negative aspects in raising? Does it hurt your chances of winning the pot if too many other players hang on tenaciously (because the pot is large)? It might affect your chances of backing into a high with a lesser hand. But, having lots of callers certainly fits in well with your main plan – namely, drawing for (or already having) the nuts. If you hit, you would like to have as many callers as possible, especially if they stick around and pay you off on the last two double-bet-size rounds.

One possible negative consequence of raising too frequently on the button might occur if one or more fish notice that you raise frequently on the button. If they become more selective when you're on the button because they fear that you might raise, that would certainly cost you money.

Note that in a 10-handed game, when you have an A-2, there is about a 36 percent chance that one or more of the other players will also have an A-2. The possibility of getting "quartered" is one of the strongest arguments against raising with an A-2 and little else.

Of course, in addition to the above, there are several other variables, such as the inherent "speed" of the game (often gauged by the frequency of before-the-flop raises), your judgment of the capabilities of the fish in your game, and your image, that influence your optimum raising strategy.

Also keep in mind the fundamental concept of playing Omaha high-low: "It is better to be loved than feared" (most formulas for success in loose Omaha high-low games are based on getting as many callers as possible). Thus, in loose Omaha high-low playing environments, you will probably get more callers by keeping your raising demeanor affable and unintimidating.