Joined: 04 Oct 2004 Posts: 468 Location: Tacoma WA
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:24 am Post subject: Need a new game - PLO?
Like so many of us, my primary experience is in NL holdem
-BUT-
In my opinon, the fishpool in the NL holdem games is drying up.
With that in mind, I am looking to branch out into other games.
I have always found Omaha fascinating but havent invested the time to learn it.
Up to now, there has been too much money to be made in holdem.
LIMIT OMAHA 8
I dabbled with limit O8 a while back but gave it up for a couple of reasons
1. Often degenerates into boring nut peddling
2. Can't utilize bet sizing skills
3. Didn't like the quartering aspect
POT LIMIT OMAHA
I am considering trying PLO but wanted to get a quick feel for the skills required
I would like to start with getting some feedback on the following comparison to NL holdem
Here are my guesses on how PLO would differ from NL holdem:
1. STARTING HAND VALUES ARE LESS DEFINED I won't even go into this one.
2. AGGRESSION IS LESS IMPORTANT. Seems like a more subtle game where blind aggression can get you hurt.
3. NEVER SLOWPLAY. There will almost always be strong draws against you.
4. VALUE BET THE RIVER LESS. Non-nut hands can never be confortable facing big bets on the end.
5. BLUFF SCARE CARDS MORE. Any 3rd card to a suit or paired board has to concern most of your opponents holdings.
6. ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THE CURRENT NUTS ARE. This is mandatory when playing any form of Omaha.
7. FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR DRAWS. Example: wrap around straight draws. Nut vs. non-nut draws.
8. POSITION IS EVEN MORE POWERFUL. Since omaha is a essentially a drawing game, controlling the odds or taking free cards is a critical skill.
Have I left anything out?
I have always heard that an expert Omaha player's expectation is better than holdem (What about variance?)
I am guessing that an Omaha expert's bread and butter are decent players that make small mistakes over and over
I am also guessing that the fish go broke much faster and are therefore less common than in holdem
Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 559 Location: Former Absolute Baddest Beater
Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject:
Variance is brutal in PLO. I think NLHE has the greatest edge for the top expert. Omaha Hi-Lo is said to have a big advantage for both intermediate players and experts against tourists, but less advantage for the expert against the intermediate player than NLHE.
Cloutier says Omaha is unbluffable, and Hellmuth says in PLO the big bluff is king. Bluffing the river when you both missed draws can be productive, but you do run into the nuts a lot in either Omaha, and that costs a lot. Don't bluff multiway pots unless everybody is playing super-snug to make a tournament bubble.
Internet Texas Hold'em offers the Best Poker Bonus Codes & most in-depth Poker Rooms Reviews. Click on the Internet Poker Room of your choice for a full review.
"The information and opinions in this site are for informational and entertainment purposes only and are provided solely as the author's opinion. The site is not intended for use in areas where this information and/or advertisements may be considered illegal. Check your federal, state, and local laws concerning the legality of gambling and online gambling in your area."