If we had to sum up your main aim in Pot limit Omaha (PLO), it would have to be this: You need to hit hard and often to win at PLO. You need to flop a good hand with something to win. It doesn’t happen as frequently as we would like to but that doesn’t have to mean you have to check-fold.
This is the time for you to analyse your hand, the texture, your opponent’s bets and their playing style to determine whether you hand is good enough to move forward in this poker game.
Of course, the more flops you make in Omaha, the easier it will become in the long run.
Straight Draws and Wraps
A wrap can benefit you more than a straight draw as it comes with more outs than an open-ender. Open-enders have eight outs but wraps can go as far as to have as many as 20.
This in turn makes big rundowns incredibly powerful. When you make the nut straight and an opponent makes a much smaller straight, you’re guaranteed to win.
You need to learn to recognise the strength of the draws as well as the outs you have to a straight.
Flush Draws in Pot Limit Omaha
One golden rule when it comes to flush draws is that if it isn’t a draw to the nuts, it’s best if you have something to go with it.
Your opponent is highly likely looking to draw to the nuts so it’s best if you have a plan set if you have a non-nut flush draw.
Sets in Pot Limit Omaha
Sets undoubtedly are still very strong hands and can turn into full houses. If you’ve got a back-up plan to go along with it then your hand will be even stronger.
Two pair
Okay so this is a bit of a weak hand. Two pairs can win at showdown occasionally but in Omaha you need big hands to win. If you’re fairly new to the game, you need to play tight and out of position as mistakes can be incredibly expensive.
How to plan for Pot Limit Omaha and win
The easiest way to improve at Pot Limit Omaha is to start from the very top with a plan in hand. When you are still getting accustomed to an online poker game, it would be best recommended that you simplify it as much as possible. This is especially promising when you play only good hands before the flop. And after you play these good hands before or after the flop, decisions will be much easier to make than with weaker hands.
Take advantage of simple decisions
When you get to the turn, you have a pretty good idea of how your hands will turn out. If you’re drawing and you’ve hit, get all-in. If you have missed, just play along whilst figuring out if you’re being given the right price to get one more card to hit your draw.
If on the other hand, you weren’t drawing, this is the time to decide whether or not the turn card will help your opponent. There are many scenarios that could come your way on the turn but it’s suggested that on the turn you can reap the benefits from a solid pre-flop and flop play.
River Value
By the time, you get to the river, you know what your hand is and you would be all-in by this point. If you’re not, you still need to assess the strength of your opponent’s hand. Make use of your observation skills from previous hands to decide on what to next whilst resonating what your opponent’s hand might be like.
Position is paramount
When you’re in position and your opponent checks, you have to come to a decision on whether to bluff or to check it down. If you’re out of position, then your options are limited and you have to face your opponent who has the aforementioned options.
Always keep in mind to plan your entire hand well in advance, in the beginning. You need to make the nuts and to have back-up plans. Most importantly, use your observation skills.