Rolf's CP Column and Starting Hand Requirements

Wow, that's pretty tight. I think starting hand selection must vary depending upon the game. In most low limit games ($25 and $50), which is what I usually play, there is little pre-flop raising, or occasional min-raises. I'm rarely going to lay down any 4 connecting cards 5 or higher before the flop for 25 cents up to $1 or so regardless of position. I'll routinely play 6789 rainbow or 5667 suited for one bet or a min-raise in early position. Granted, you have to know when to fold on a trouble flop. I think the key to playing a variety of hands, especially out of position, is knowing the likelihood of a raise behind you and having confidence in your ability to fold to serious action before or after the flop.

To some extent I call too often with ordinary drawing hands out of position pre-flop, and it's a leak I know needs fixing. That being said, at low levels I think you're giving up way too much by not playing many of those hands for a single bet to see the flop.

AKJTr is a hand that can get you in a lot of trouble because it plays well in small pots and poorly in big pots. I think we can all agree that broadway cards are far more likely to be in play after the flop. This means that when such a hand hits the flop, it also hits your opponents more often than not. Omaha is to a large part a game of straights, flushes, and boats. Roughly 40% of all unpaired final boards will have at least 3 of a suit. This seriously erodes the value of this hand.

This hand is the equivalent I'd say of something like KJo in HE. It has real strength, but it's dangerous.