Over the past two years, I have received numerous requests for clarification of various aspects of my point count system for evaluating four card Omaha hands. Most of these requests were from “computer types” who were attempting to use my point count in computer studies, and hence wanted very specific details. I always advise them that my Omaha point count system, like the point count systems used in contract bridge and blackjack counting, only gives a statistical approximation of the true worth of card hand, since all such systems have to be simple to be useable.

Although most of my point count values were obtained by rounding off results obtained from computer simulations, it turned out (happily) that most of the actual point count values were fairly close to whole numbers, for example, the relative point count value of two touching cards (for example a seven and an eight) for straight making purposes was about 2.1, whereas the true value of two cards with a hole (for example a six and eight) was about 1.9. Thus, in my point count system, it seemed appropriate to use the value two for both.

The only significant change to my point count system that has occurred during the last two years is the change in total points recommended to see the flop from ten to eleven points. This change was suggested by computer simulations and in practice is most appropriate for games with frequent before-the-flop activity or in a lower ante environment. Although there is not much “visual” difference between ten and eleven point hands, in most Omaha environments it is best to fold some of the lowish looking ten point hands in early positions. More support for using eleven point flop-seeing hands came while I was doing research on the “hold” which will be generated by our new Cappelletti Omaha Challenge poker slot machines (manufacturing licenses still available). Requiring a total point count value of eleven for accepting the first hand dealt yielded better results for the player than did ten.

The point count treatment of negative aspects is normally as follows: For trips in hand use the point count value of the pair divided by two (half as likely to flop). Thus the only trips in hand that are at all playable are three aces with a suited card or perhaps three kings with an excellant outside card. For three and four hand cards in the same suit use ninty and eighty percent of the normal flush point count value (in computer programs use 89% and 78%).

The three and four “proximate” card bonuses (for straight-making purposes) are best computed as follows: For three in a row (lowest example 654) give two extra points. Thus the total straight making points for a 654, when the fourth card in hand is not proximate, is seven. For three out of four (examples 764 or 754) give one extra point. The four card bonuses may be simply calulated by doing the three-card bonus calculations twice - first starting with the highest card and then starting with the second highest card.

Test question: Is an 8764 unsuited Omaha hand playable using my point count? Answer: A clear yes. Two points each for 87,86,76,64 yields eight points, and one point for the 74 makes nine. Then the two point bonus for the 876 and one point bonus for 764 yields a total of twelve straight making points. I have had excellant results playing this type of hand in limit Omaha (see The Card Player, July 26, 1991, “The Low Wrap Revisited”).