Proper Use of Aggression in PLO/8 Games
There is nothing quite like a Pot Limit Omaha/8 cash game. It is very different from Pot Limit Omaha (high only), and also very different than Limit Omaha/8. Omaha Hi-Lo played for big bets creates unique and interesting situations that are not found in any other form of poker.I love it. It’s one of my favorite poker games.
The only problem I seem to encounter is that at Ultimate Bet, my usual haunt for this game, there often seems to be a disconnect cheater in the game. That ruins it, as the action slows to a crawl and the cheater gets to draw for free at the existing pot. Usually a few of us start another table, but the cheater will sometimes follow us over.
When a low is possible and the pot has gotten big enough that a pot-sized raise becomes an all-in situation, things get interesting. You shouldn’t make that raise with just the nut low. In fact sometimes it is correct to throw the nut low away. If you got no high chances whatsoever and another player has called a large bet, get out now. You are going to get quartered at best if you put all your chips in there, and the counterfeit card comes more often than you would think.
If you do have high chances, then you would start making the big raises. Especially if you are second to act and it looks like your opponent might have the nut low as well. By raising out the field you are getting the best of it even when you only have a weak pair for high.
You also want to pot it with your better draws as long as you have decent scooping chances. If you have the nut straight draw plus two pair plus the second nut low draw, that’s a good time to make a large bet or raise to try and get the pot heads up. You also would do this on high-only boards with wraps or good combinations such as a straight draw plus flush draw. Another thing you need to understand is when your single opponent would need to use all 4 cards to scoop you on the river. This takes practice and thinking on your feet in order to recognize it, but when you do, it’s an easy pot-bet situation. Try to make an all-in raise if you can.
Here is an example. You have A7QJ with hearts and the board is 23J78 with no possible flush. At first glance this looks like a marginal hand to even be calling a small bet with. But against one opponent you should bet or raise the pot, as they will need to use all 4 hole cards to scoop you, which is very difficult. You have a lot of fold equity in this situation. It might help to remember that this play can only be made when there is no possible flush on the river, two low cards cannot make a straight, and you have some kind of low plus either two pair, a set, or any straight to go with it.
If you can find online games without disconnect cheaters, Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better is one of the most profitable poker games you can play in. I highly recommend learning to specialize in it.
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February 12th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
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