Why Avoid Weak Rundowns in PLO

In Omaha, you start every hand out with a plan to make the nuts. Rundowns (meaning four cards that are connected in sequence, like 6789) give you that chance and are among the strongest starting hands in PLO. But not all rundowns are considered equal.
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Arved Klöhn Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 21, 2025

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Bigger Rundown = Better Rundown

The bigger the rundown in PLO, the better. You always want to make the nuts and “cooler” people when they make a second-best straight. If you set yourself up by playing the right hands in the right position, you’ll be doing the coolering more often than you’ll be getting coolered. It’s for that reason that big rundowns are much stronger than smaller rundowns.

Example #1:

10 9 7 8 is a lot more powerful of a hand than 3 4 5 6 .

The former will simply make the nuts far more often than the latter. Making second-best straights in Omaha is extremely expensive and the primary reason why small rundowns should seldom be played. Rundowns also have excellent flopability because when you flop two pair you always flop a draw to go along with it.

Example #2: You open-raise to 3 big blinds with 10 9 8 7 from the hijack. The cutoff calls, and you go heads-up to a flop of J 6 5 . You have an open-ended straight draw and a backdoor flush draw. Hands like this can often make the nuts and avoid costly scenarios where you hold a weaker straight.

The Best Rundowns in PLO

The best rundowns are large rundowns with few gaps. Just like in Hold’em, suited connectors (eg. 7 8 ) are much better than suited two-gappers (eg. 7 5 ).

In Omaha, T987 is a much better hand than J786. The more gaps in your hand, the harder a time you’ll have making the nut straight. AKQJ is an excellent hand but it’s not the most powerful rundown because it can only make two different straights as opposed to four. 

More Powerful PLO rundowns:

  • J 10 9 8
  • Q J 10 9
  • 9 8 7 6

These rundowns can make straights in more ways, and when they do they’ll often “cooler” smaller straights.

Strong PLO Rundowns

Weaker, but still strong, rundowns are rundowns with a gap in them. Ideally if you do have a gap in your rundown you’d like it to be on your smallest cards ex. JT97. That way when you flop a “wrap,” a straight draw with more outs than an open-ender, more of your outs will be to the nuts. Eg. JT97 on 89X, 78X, 68X etc.

When the gap is on your top card, eg. T765, when you flop a wrap half the time you’ll be drawing to the non-nut straights e.g. T765 on 89X, 87X etc. And, as we’ve established, drawing to non-nut straights is ill advised. Other strong rundowns are three-card rundowns with a nut suit. e.g. A 8 7 6 .

The nut suit (having the ace of the suit) adds value to this hand because you can now flop huge. You can flop a wrap with the nut flush draw, two pair with the nut flush draw, etc. If you have a nut suit it really increases the value of your hand.

You must always be calculating in your head how often your hand is going to make the nuts. The more ways to your hand can make the nuts, the stronger the hand. The more ways you can make second-best, the weaker the hand.

Weak PLO Rundowns

Weak rundowns are hands that, even when they flop big, are trouble hands. Small rundowns like 3456, rundowns with gaps (8543) and similar hands are extremely weak. When these types of hands make straights they will seldom make the nut straight. And when they make two pair, seldom will it be the best hand. Bottom line, these hands are trash and should be avoided.

Example: You limp from early position with 5 6 7 8 . A late-position opponent raises, and you decide to call. The flop comes 4 3 2 , giving you a straight but not the nut. Another opponent’s 6 7 5 A can dominate you with a bigger straight or redraws, illustrating how easily small rundowns can land you in trouble.

Suited Rundowns Make Your Hand More Powerful

Having a rundown that’s suited (or preferably double suited) makes your hand infinitely more powerful.

Eg. 5 6 7 8 is so much better than 5 6 7 8 .

Though none of the suits are nut suits, being suited just adds Plan Bs and Cs to your hand. Remember we want to flop something with something else.

When you flop the nuts on 4 3 2 with 5 6 7 8 , you can freeroll on anyone with 5 6 7 8 .
Being suited and double suited gives you more options to win and makes your hand much, much stronger.

Case Study:

$1/$2 PLO with $200 effective stacks. A player raises to $5 under the gun and another player calls on the button. You call in the big blind with 10 7 8 6 and go three-way to a flop.

The flop comes 8 3 9 . You bet $10 and the original raiser makes it $40. The button calls.

What Should You Do?

You should fold. Yes, you have a wrap, but it’s a weak one. You have few outs to the nuts, there’s a flush draw out there, and you’re out of position. There are very few good turn cards for your hands. Often you’ll make a straight and someone will make a bigger one costing you money.

Pocket Aces & Weak Rundowns = Danger

There’s a big difference between a hand like KQJT and something like 6543. And by focusing on playing bigger rundowns you’ll put yourself in fewer tough spots. Like when you make the weak end of a straight.

In PLO it’s pretty common for more than one player to have a straight, so it’s really important for you to be the one with the better straight. Playing bigger rundowns that are also suited or double-suited will also mean you’ll be making bigger flushes.

Pocket aces can also spell trouble. If you play Hold’em you’ll know that aces are a huge hand but that they can also be dangerous for beginners because they’re hard to fold after the flop even when you think you’re beat.

In Omaha it’s even more likely that one of your opponents will out-flop your aces. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for beginners to let them go. 

Maximizing Rundown Value

Modern PLO strategy often goes beyond simply identifying weak or strong rundowns. Experienced players utilize nuanced approaches to board textures, stack depths, and opponent tendencies to increase EV with every holding. The goal is to consistently navigate spots where big draws can either pot-commit you or guide you to a profitable fold.

One key aspect is recognizing reverse implied odds. Even strong rundowns can become problematic when you have a medium wrap on a monotone board or a multi-way pot where opponents can outdraw your straight with flushes or higher straights. Employing disciplined bet-sizing and understanding your equity in multi-way scenarios can help you avoid these pitfalls.

GTO-Inspired Adjustments

Game Theory Optimal (GTO) approaches to Omaha continue to evolve, especially as solver technology advances. Though pure GTO solutions can be complex, certain guiding principles apply consistently to rundowns. First, evaluate how frequently your rundown produces the nut draw. The more often your draw is to the nuts, the more aggressively you can proceed. Second, consider future streets when you have position. Even with a weaker rundown, position allows you to see how your opponents react before committing additional chips, which can influence your overall EV.

Another GTO-inspired adjustment is balancing your range by mixing in some mid-level rundown calls in late position, particularly if you block key nut draws or expect to outplay your opponents post-flop. However, always weigh the reverse implied odds. If your hand rarely connects for the nuts and you face strong competition, it may be better to avoid marginal rundowns altogether, preserving chips for more profitable spots.

FAQ

What is a weak rundown in PLO?

A weak rundown is a sequence of four connected cards that rarely makes the nut straight, often due to smaller ranks or significant gaps. These hands tend to create reverse implied odds because they frequently make second-best straights or weaker draws.

Why are bigger rundowns stronger than smaller ones?

Bigger rundowns, such as 10 9 8 7 , are more likely to form the highest possible straight. They also connect better with more flops, allowing you to avoid spots where you hold the bottom end of a straight.

Is it ever advisable to play small rundowns?

Small rundowns can be playable in certain circumstances, particularly if you are in position, the pot remains multi-way, and you can see cheap flops. However, such situations are rare and typically require careful post-flop skills and a willingness to fold if you sense a bigger draw might dominate.

How important is being suited or double-suited in a rundown?

Having suited or double-suited cards significantly increases your hand’s flexibility. Even if you miss the straight, you can still hit flush draws or backdoor draws, adding extra equity and more ways to win.

Why should beginners be cautious with pocket aces in PLO?

Although aces are a strong starting hand, PLO often sees multiple players seeing the flop. Aces can get cracked more easily, and beginners can lose substantial pots by failing to fold them when they are clearly beaten.

How does position factor into playing rundowns?

Position is critical because it allows you to observe your opponents’ actions before committing chips. You can make more informed decisions, controlling the pot size and bluffing more effectively with both strong and marginal rundowns.

What adjustments do advanced players make with rundowns using GTO concepts?

Advanced players focus on how often their draws are to the nuts, employ balanced aggression, and carefully manage reverse implied odds. They also mix in certain marginal rundowns to keep their ranges unpredictable, especially when they can leverage position and post-flop skill.

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