Post-Flop Play In Limit Deuce To Seven Dramaha

As in all variants of Dramaha, the decisions we make before the flop are the most impactful to our bottom line. However, we must play well afterwards to retain this advantage. Let’s examine some key fundamentals regarding post-flop play:

Continuation Betting The Flop

When we have the “lead” we should continuation bet less often than we would in High Dramaha. In the high version the best draw hand is a big favorite to win that side and is often an equity favorite in Omaha as well. In 2-7 Dramaha there is not a great difference in the draw equities before the flop and the flop will often dramatically alter the situation in Omaha.

For example, suppose we have 2-3-4-7 and hold a 58 percent low equity advantage over our opponent’s 9-8-6-3 before the flop. The flop is 9-8-5 rainbow and although it gives us a gutshot straight draw (not to nuts) this is a terrible flop for our hand. When the flop comes with three low cards that we do not have those are three dead cards that we cannot obtain to make a low and, in this example, our low equity has dropped from 58 percent to 53 percent.

In addition, due to card removal it is more likely that our opponent has paired and/or has some stronger draws. In this particular situation we should check, although typical players will always bet this strong low draw and in general appear to have very high continuation betting frequencies.

Assuming suits are not in play our opponent’s 9-8-6-3 has around 73 percent equity in Omaha and in totality is approximately a 60 percent favorite. In game conditions he will probably do better than this as he will always go to showdown with two pair while the times we miss our low we will often have to fold the turn and not fully realize our Omaha equity.

Of course, we don’t know what our opponent has but this is a flop we should check. If however, the flop came down as A-K-2 rainbow we would have a clear bet as our equity on both sides have increased. Our low equity increased from 58 percent to 60 percent while in Omaha we jumped from 41 percent to 63 percent. A pair of twos is not a monster but when we hold the only pair it is a decent edge in addition to the fact that two cards your opponent needs for low are often dead.

In general, when we have a drawing hand we are continuation betting for three reasons:

1. Value
2. Give the impression we have at least a semi-strong Omaha hand or at least a draw that we plan to take to the end (i.e. no turn fold equity for our opponent)
3. Attempt to get our opponent to break a weak pat low

From out of position we obviously cannot represent a pat low when we draw thus reason three does not exist in that circumstance.

If we are almost always continuation betting it stops losing meaning and thus it will be difficult to represent a strong Omaha holding. Even worse if our continuation betting frequency is abnormally high our opponent can delay his value raises until the flop with all of his holdings and in the process completely muddle his range.

Betting at a high frequency has merit when your opponent potentially has a really weak range; however, it certainly pays to think through how the flop impacts both you and your opponent’s equities.

Facing Flop “Donk” Bets

Suppose you open-raise the button with 9 7 4 3 and are called by the big blind. The flop comes down Q 8 2 and to your surprise your opponent leads into you and then stands pat. Since your opponent did not re-raise preflop it’s highly likely his holding is something like Q-10-8-7-3 as opposed to a strong pat hand. He was probably planning on drawing to the ten, but since he made top two pair on the flop decided to just go with it in the hopes you are not pat and he has a chance to scoop.

Whenever someone shows no real strength on the first round and then “donks” the flop and pats this is the hand they typically showdown and thus you have pretty reliable information about what low you need to beat. The highest card on the board is typically the low that you need to overcome. It may seem like you are drawing to just a chop, however, this situation may be surprisingly better than what it seems.

Other players may check-raise in this situation and stand pat but the main principle remains the same if you have a strong read that he re-raises strong pats on the first betting round and most players do play in this manner.

Anyway, as the cards lie in this example, we are a 58 percent favorite to outdraw his queen low. And on the Omaha side your current pile of nothing actually has 19 percent equity. That’s the nature of Five Card Omaha High! Thus, we have an easy flop call, and the times we make a jack low or better we usually have our opponent in a free-roll situation. This means that when we make a jack and pick up any equity in Omaha such as any pair or even just a gutshot straight draw we should raise our opponent’s turn bet.

When the flop contains two or three suits other possible holdings for our opponent include ace or king high flush cards. The situation here is the same; a jack low or better is almost always good. Then if there is no flush possible on the turn we should raise for value when we pick up any hand or draw in Omaha.

Board Lock Situations

2-7 Dramaha is unique in that there are often situations where we can know for a certainty that our hand is guaranteed to be getting at minimum half and sometimes, we will win three-quarters of the pot.

The most common example is when you make a flush on an unpaired board with no straight flush possible with the highest card of your low hand. In this situation you are guaranteed at least half of the pot because if the flush is no good than your low is best.

Here’s another example, suppose the board on the turn is A Q J 9 and we hold 10-8-4-3-2. If we lead out and get raised you should pop it back and never stop raising. If our opponent has a higher straight we have the better low and if he holds a better low we will win the high. We are hoping that our opponent has a worse 10-8 low because in that case we will win three quarters of the pot.

On an A A K K J board we have one of those silly situations where two low hands will just simply chop. For example, 7-5-4-3-2 would take the low and 9-8-4-3-2 would win Omaha.

Turn and River Play

Assuming you have played well on the first two betting rounds your decisions on the turn and river will be more straight-forward than if you played too loose preflop. Following the advice of these articles you will typically have the “lead” with many of your pots being played heads-up in position. The times you choose to bet the flop you will often have a hand or solid draw in Omaha thus will often be able to continue even if you missed your low. There are a lot of chopped pots in 2-7 Dramaha.

Suppose you open-raise from the cutoff and are called by a somewhat tight and straight-forward big blind. The flop is not to your liking and the street gets checked through. If your opponent checks the turn this is often a green light to take a stab at the pot even when you have very little. Given the lack of action on the flop your opponent will often lead when he makes a hand on at least one of the sides. This is not to be overdone or else your opponents can simply start check-raising you. However, you are getting a great price on your steal as there are 2.25 big bets in the pot and you are only risking one to try and get it. And sometimes you may win half or even scoop when he check-calls.

Be very aware of the times when you are stuck in the middle of a three-way pot. You need to sometimes release a marginal low or Omaha holding when the first player leads out and there is another opponent behind you. Calling with mediocre Omaha draws such as low flushes are often losing plays because they are a favorite to not come in and may not even be good when you make it. And with a player behind you there is always the threat of the pot getting raised.

When you hold a very strong one-way hand in a multi-way pot you should often try and keep other players in the pot but with a premium low you should always consider raising if you have potential in Omaha. This can possibly clean up high outs and someone left to act will always continue with a nine low or better; some will even get obstinate with ten lows especially with potential of their own in Omaha.

When you hold just a high hand and it’s a nut straight it is important to keep in mind that other players may hold the same straight with possible redraws. This is often a pulling situation for defensive purposes.

There are no magic formulas for play on the later streets; however, your judgment will get better over time as you gain experience. It is very important to analyze hands after the fact to help identify and correct obvious leaks in your game.

Next issue we will conclude the series on the Dramaha variants with a special bonus article on another very interesting game, Forty-Nine Dramaha! ♠

Kevin Haney is a former actuary of MetLife but left the corporate job to focus on his passions for poker and fitness. He is co-owner of Elite Fitness Club in Oceanport, NJ and is a certified personal trainer. With regards to poker he got his start way back in 2003 and particularly enjoys taking new players interested in mixed games under his wing and quickly making them proficient in all variants. He can be reached at [email protected].