Apparently, Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is currently the hot game on the pro circuit. For me, there is enough of a challenge determining good hands in Omaha without the overlay of figuring out PLO betting, plus the ever changing pot odds, etc. Here’s an example of the multiplier effect in PLO betting. If the big blind is $1 and everyone calls, the pot is $10. On the next round, a maximum of $10 can be bet. However, once $10 is bet, there is now $20 in the pot. That grows every time someone calls. As you can see, the pot total and bet limit grows exponentially and quickly. What’s a player to do? Here are a few suggestions.
- If you are not an experienced Omaha player, don’t even sit down at a PLO table
- Only play hands where your four hole cards work together; no danglers allowed.
- Don’t fall in love with big pairs, including aces.
- Only draw for the nuts. If you don’t have that possibility, you shouldn’t be in the hand.
- Small flushes and the low end of a straight will kill your stack.
- Never slow play, nothing good can happen.
- There’s no reason to raise before the flop.
- Be disciplined and know when to fold.
By Howard Hian