Pot Limit
Omaha Poker Strategy
A lot of money is won
and lost playing pot limit Omaha. Many people
don’t understand the complexities of the game
and very few people are masters at it when
compared to Texas Holdem. PLO can be a very
intimidating game to new players. The fast paced
action and common pot limit bets can scare many
players into making bad decisions. Starting hand
selection is critical in pot limit Omaha. A
discussion on preflop and post flop strategy
will be discussed below.
PL Omaha Starting
Hands And Pre Flop Strategy
In
Omaha poker the best strategy to win is by
having the best hand after all five cards are
out. A second or third best hand will cost you a
lot of chips. With that in mind, premium, high
card starting hands are the way to go. Here are
some great hands, stick to these exclusively if
you are just starting:
- AAKK double suited
is best, AsKsAhKh
- AAJT double suited
again is best, AcJcAdTd
- AAXX any pair of
aces is always a strong hand. XX
combinations that are suited or high in
value are the best. Specifically look for
JJ, QQ, TT, other pairs or high suited
combinations like QJ, 9T, QT, KQ.
- 89TJ hands like
this provide excellent nut straight
possibilities in pot limit Omaha
- KKQQ
These are not the only
hands to play, but they are the best. Look for
high face card combinations, four middle to high
cards connected and always remember that double
suited is best.
Avoid
playing hands that are low in value, even if you
have four in a row. Small straights and flushes
are bad news in pot limit Omaha and they will
cost you your house.
Before
the flop, there are a couple of different
strategies depending on your hand. With a
holding like AAKK, or AAXX you will definitely
want to raise. You have a very strong hand that
is better than all the rest. If you have a
drawing hand like TJQK then you want to invite
many players to the pot In hopes of hitting it
big. A small raise is okay with this type of
hand before the flop. Rather, an inviting raise.
With other high pairs besides AA, you want to
see the flop for cheap. You are looking to hit
the set and if you miss, get out.
Pot Limit Omaha Post Flop Play
The
flop determines a lot in Pot Limit Omaha. For
example, when holding AAXX or AAKK your hand may
not fair so well after the flop if you don’t hit
anything, so it is extra important to bet big
before the flop or represent on the flop and
take the pot down. When you do hit a flop in Pot
Limit Omaha, it is critically important that you
bet to protect your hand. You have up to the pot
amount to bet and it would be wise to do so to
prevent drawing hands from continuing. Other
situations worthy of putting all your chips in
would be like these:
- You hold JQKA and
the flop comes A9T, you have top two pair
and several chances to hit the absolute best
straight.
- You hold 9sTsKdAd
and the flop comes 8sKs2c7h, you have a four
flush, an inside straight draw and top pair.
- You hold 789T and
the flop comes T74, you have top pair and a
draw to the best possible straight.
Just remember that in
pot limit Omaha you want the best possible hand.
Don’t play with second best straights, flushes
or sets; you will lose all your chips. Bet big
to protect your strong hands and bluff on the
end to throw your opponents off. A successful
pot limit Omaha strategy revolves around playing
the best starting hands and pursuing pots when
you have the best chance of winning with the
nuts.
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