Having played poker for quite a few years, I have observed the highs and lows of many players; I have watched poker players come and go and seen all types of people from all works of life. The thing that has really taken my attention of late, however, is the time, dedication and commitment required to cut it on the tournament trail when chasing the ultimate pot of gold.
I play fairly infrequently these days due to my two little angels (Sophie and Alfie) and, of course, the lovely Nicola. I think the obvious distraction of children and wives (or girlfriends) makes it virtually impossible to focus and succeed on the felt as a professional. I am in the fortunate position that poker comes well down the pecking order in my life in the sense that I don’t rely on it as my main source of income. I do love the game and strive success both online and live, but finding the time and commitment to play week in week out is very difficult.
Mental preparation both before and during a tournament is a must to perform at your optimum level, which is why the moral of this story is: ‘To be successful in the poker jungle, you must have a clear mind with no distractions; get rid of your job, girlfriend, wife, and, most of all, wait until you have made your fortune before having any kids!’
The young groups of successful, English players are a perfect example of this. Oh, to be 18 again!
When it comes to Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), however, many young players – especially those attempting to make the transition from Hold’em - still have a lot to learn. I was playing a live full-ring cash game at my local casino a couple of weeks back and was amazed at the total lack of skill some young Hold’em players had whilst trying to adapt to PLO for what must have been their first time!
Obviously, the seasoned Omaha players will read my words and simply say, ‘Well, that's just basic PLO,’ but it always surprises me at how unsuccessfully Hold’em players carry their preferred game into PLO. Please note that the following advice generally applies to full-ring cash games rather than short-handed. When discussing short-handed play, major modifications need to be applied, say, for example, if you are tackling Chufty [Richard Ashby] in a three-handed game (I run so bar against him. Grr!)
The first basic rule is hand selection. Try to avoid danglers at all costs; four working cards are essential. By this, I mean that we want them all to be active in some way. Ad-6d-T-J plays OK, for example, because the dangler (the 6d) works in conjunction with the Ad. Also, when selecting which preflop holdings to play, try to avoid small pairs; they will often get you into a spot on the flop where you have a set-on-set situation and end up stacking off with just one out!
Next, consider your position before making any action. In my opinion, position in PLO is far more important than it is in NLH due to the dynamics in play. Personally, I find that when you are in early position, it is far more effective to limp with your big pairs, as making a raise will encourage more skilled players to call and outplay you on any random flop, unless, of course, you catch your two outer for the set. Raising from early position with four run down cards (e.g. 4-5-6-7) is far more profitable as your hand now has some deception to it and makes it more difficult for the Chufty’s of this world to outplay you as you have added a bit of unpredictability to your game.
If you receive your big hands in late position, then I would certainly come in for a raise. Not only will you be isolating any limpers in position, but you may draw a reraise from kings when you have good aces. This now becomes a great spot to get the maximum amount of chips possible in preflop.
A huge leak that I see in many players is that they will limp with random hands out of position. I definitely wouldn’t advise doing this as one of two things will happen: you will either limp-call preflop and just check-fold to any missed flop (i.e. fit or fold poker), or you will limp-fold to a preflop raise. Neither of these options will turn you a profit in the long run.
However, by far the worst play of all that I have frequently witnessed from Hold’em players is going to war on the flop with non nut draws - this can only end in tears. I would therefore advise you to just bin hands such as Qh-Qc-2h-6c on a 7h-8h-Js flop where there is action. Although pocket queens look pretty in Hold’em, there value severely drops here. Also, you may have a flush draw, but it’s only to the queen high flush, and so you will be forced to play guesswork on the turn if a heart arrives, and will likely find yourself being outplayed by players holding just the bare ace if stacks are deep.
The best tip I was ever given was to always draw to the nuts, and only then if the price is right. Also, you should never miss a bet. The check-trap you apply to your Hold’em game will often end up with someone making a random straight with some obscure gutshot; there are very few hands where you flop so big that you can afford a check, and even with those hands, I would bet anyway.
Hold’em players may find themselves in a very alien position when they have to fold the nut straight on a draw heavy board with three to four-way action, but it is, without doubt, the long term correct decision to muck on the flop rather than having to make awkward decisions on the turn. In PLO, I find that if you are patient and make the right folds, you will always reach a better spot to get your money in good. Most people simply don’t realise that you are never too far in front in this game.
If you choose to continue in a hand with the nut straight on, say, a 9h-7h-5c flop, you must play it as slow as possible on the flop. I see so many people getting there whole stack in here when you can be easily up against 9-9-9, J-T-9-8, and an A-high flush draw. Your 8-6 with no redraw or blockers has shrunk to a huge dog and those other hands are unlikely to fold. Getting your money in on the turn is a far better approach, as you will probably get a fold from one or maybe two of the other hands. Playing the turn is generally a lot easier than playing the flop and, unless you have multiple draws, a fold is the only answer. The exception, of course, is when your stack is small enough for you to be getting the right price for your draw.
So, to conclude, don’t just assume that the strategies applied in No Limit Hold’em effectively transfer over to Pot Limit Omaha. PLO is a completely different game that requires a different approach. Don’t make the same mistakes many new, young players make; avoid danglers, consider position, don’t chase non nut draws, bet your hands, and be prepared for the possibility that you might have to fold the nuts.