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Some Extra Strategy for PLO

Pot Limit Omaha is a macho poker variation and the skill of the game is evident in a good players game perhaps more so than Holdem. What looks like reckless aggression is part of the game and a direct result of having more hole cards which connect in one way or another to the flop very frequently. A large amount of players over value their hands and better hands are hit more often, partly due to players playing irregular starting hands. Combine all of these factors and you are left with one thing; action.

Basic strategy for PLO is a lot different to Texas Hold ‘em and many players miss this fundamental difference. One benefit of playing PLO over Holdem is that the game reinforces the importance of position and many of the recommended strategies you can sometimes forget and still win at Holdem. Forget your fundamental strategies at PLO and you are in trouble.

Playing in position gives you an advantage over weaker opponents. You should only be playing hands in early position at PLO when you are holding something extremely strong. You can limp then fold to an aggressive player out of position and if you do get to see a flop cheaply then you can decide on the strength of your hand before calling anymore bets. Considering any hands you do play out of position in Omaha poker should be very strong (otherwise they should be folded) your early position play is based on strength and can still be profitable, but only if you play deliberately.

Texas Holdem players struggle with the hand AAxx in PLO where xx is something like 44, JQ or anything else with reasonable strength. These hands are vulnerable because unlike Holdem, Omaha gives players four hole cards and the potential for connecting with the flop is larger. Holdem players will value AA highly whilst it is unlikely to be leading in a multi-way pot after the flop in the face of betting. This hand is better to play heads up because of the ease in which Aces up is beaten. Unless you improve this hand will win the small uncontested hands but lose the larger hands where the action gets big quickly.

This leads us to consider the power of drawing hands. For those who prefer Texas Hold ‘em, learning how to win at PLO is a good way of advancing in your understanding of the drawing odds and the math of poker. You should learn how many outs you have and the power of your draw in relation to the betting. This will help your Holdem game. Another game that further challenges your understanding of poker odds is Stud. There you can see some cards your opponents have so you are not considering somewhat set odds to a flush or straight, but nine minus what you can see in each player’s hands.

When we discuss late position in this contest it means full ring Omaha as three off the button in short handed games is the first player to act! But position is everything in this game, you need to use the advantage position gives you very carefully as this is your best time to play in what is an action packed game. You need to take any advantage available to you. The biggest culture shock comes from the aggressiveness in the game. Any passive tight Texas Hold ‘em player will find Omaha tough to begin with.

Your opponents will be, on the whole, weaker than your normal Hold’em opponents. You can bluff at more hands and limp more often as you should have a good understanding of hand values in relation to PLO which opponents moving from other games do not have. Understand the math and use it with position and you are on the right track to succeed at PLO.

By Malcolm Clarke

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