Copyright 2007 Full
Tilt Poker
October 5th 2007
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Poker Lessons)
Poker Lesson: Getting Started
in Pot-Limit
Omaha
Author: Brandon Adams
To the uninitiated, the only discernible difference
between a game of Omaha and a game of Hold
'em is that players start each hand with four cards instead
of two. But what a difference those two extra cards can make throughout
the course of a hand.
In Hold
'em, your two cards represent one of 169 possible hands. In
Omaha, where you must use two of your four starting cards to make
your hand, you're essentially being dealt six different Hold 'em
hands. But don't let the seemingly endless hand combinations frighten
you away from Pot-Limit
Omaha because it's one of the most entertaining forms of poker
you can play.
If you're new to the game, I've got three important
concepts that will help you lay a solid foundation for improving
your game.
Play Dominating Hands
The basic idea of PLO is to play hands that have your opponent
dominated if you both hit. The advantage of any A-X flush draw
means that when you make your flush, it's the best possible hand
you can, unless the board pairs and brings full house possibilities.
This becomes especially important at lower limits because most
players will pay off big bets with a lower flush. If you face
a large bet or re-raise when you make a low flush or the board
pairs, it's usually wise to let it go and wait for a better spot.
Know the Value of Your Starting Hands
Generally, the best starting hand in Pot-Limit
Omaha is A-A-K-K double-suited. You hold both a pair of aces
and a pair of kings, and being double suited means that you also
have two flush possibilities in your hand. As-Ks-Ah-Kh has more
value in PLO than a rainbow A-A-K-K because of those potential
flushes.
Hands that are double-suited and hold four to a
straight also rank high in value. For example, Qc-Jc-10d-9d runs
fairly close to A-A-K-K. When you play a hand with four to a straight
you're not looking to make one pair, but instead, looking for
a board with strong drawing value. A good flop for this hand would
be 10-9-3 rainbow - you hold both a made hand (top two pair) and
a draw to the nuts (an open-ended straight draw).
Generally, you should tread carefully with hands
like Ad-Ks-Qc-Jh. At first glance, this hand looks appealing,
but the lack of flush draws lessens its value. While you hold
the top straight on a flop of Js-10s-9h, you could easily be up
against someone with the same straight and a spade flush draw.
You're in especially bad shape against a hand like Kc-Qs-9s-9h.
You should also stay away from hands with only one
pair and little else. Hands like 8-8-J-3 have very little value,
even if they are double-suited because you are too easily dominated
if you make your flush.
Don't Overplay Aces
Beginning players make this mistake more than any other in PLO.
While Aces are a strong starting hand, too many players are unable
to lay them down when the situation demands it. This is especially
true for players moving into PLO from No-Limit
Hold 'em, where Aces are worth much more before the flop.
Don't be the player who blindly pushes their chips into the middle
with two Aces hoping that they simply 'hold up.'
The main rationale for raising or re-raising with
a hand that contains two Aces is that if you and your opponent
both hit your hands, you will have hit yours harder. You figure
to get all-in where you are a major favorite over your opponent,
either with a higher set, a higher flush, or a higher straight.
It's also important to remember that if the flop
doesn't improve your hand, it will very likely help your opponent.
I don't recommend playing a big pot with one pair - even if they
are Aces - in PLO.
Because Pot-Limit
Omaha is such a multi-layered game, it's important to realize
that most of the action is going to happen after the flop. With
four cards in your hand, you'll have many more opportunities to
draw to winning hands than you do in Hold 'em. Of course, your
opponents also have many more chances to outdraw you, which is
why understanding the value of different hands before the flop
is so important.
By developing a solid understanding of the basics
of PLO, you'll give yourself a strong platform on which to build
your game.
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