No Limit Omaha Strategy

Pot limit Omaha is a bit like no limit hold'em. In fact it is actually a cousin game. (All games that use the five card community format are cousin games, pot limit hold’em is also a cousin of pot limit omaha because of the restrictions on the all in bet. ) These are just rules to how the game is played. And the main rules specific to PLO are that you must use two cards from your hand in combination with the community cards. (Whereas in most other community card games you may choose to use one of the cards in your hand in coordination with the community cards. ). Additionally, in PLO you may only bet the size of the pot as a limit, you cannot overbet the pot like you can in no limit hold'em.

I am ready to take my poker game to the next level!

Rules of the Game Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is the second most popular poker game in the world. Ten years ago it was somewhat difficult to find a live game going outside of Europe but now many card rooms spread PLO regularly. While it will never surpass No Limit Hold’em (NLHE) in popularity it will. Loose game Limit Omaha is a game of massive edges; loose game Limit Hold'em is a game of smallish edges. Low limit Omaha games are the easiest poker games to beat - if you play properly. Most players do not have the ability, or more important, the desire to play properly in low limit Omaha games. If you are playing to win, generally Omaha games are the place to play because they are cheaper (less bankroll), more profitable (higher hourly win rates) and have weaker players playing much more. Because there are two winning pots in this format, you should pick starting. Unlike Texas Hold’Em, where the post popular betting rules are no-limit (hence the abbreviated NL Hold’Em), Omaha games tend to be pot-limit (abbreviated to PLO). What this means that you can never bet an amount higher than the pot, making pre-flop all-ins a lot less like than in Texas Hold’Em.

The only difference between pot limit omaha and 5 card omaha (courchevel), is the extra card you get dealt. That's it!

The extra card breathes new life Into an already, quite complex game.
The extra card allows you to build extra combinations with your starting hand, bringing the grand total to 10 possible combinations of hands.

The outline below illustrates this with a diagram using distribution and color arrows:

Four new combinations create a whole new game, and a vast array of possibilities.

As always I recommend you try playing this game at play money or just for fun with your buddies before venturing to play in that real cash coliseum. My prediction is bloody, bloody madness with chariots, tigers, and flying mid-class metallic weapons heading in every general direction. But hey, that is why gladiators start off practicing with wooden swords.

Tactical Adjustments for Courchevel Poker

Hand strengths skew up as they did from the switch of games, nlhe to PLO. With many players you are going to tighten up even more and nut hands could just begin with nut flushes +. Weaker hands like top two pairs could become trap hands with the advent of four new combinations in everyones’ hand.

Players should tend to fold less since there is now even more gambling possibilities, do not try bluffs unless it is on the river, and your story is very believable.

Now we are going to talk about a ski resort in the French Alps. How does tie into our omaha discussion, you ask?

“Patience, my dear Watson.” As my childhood hero would say.

Courchevel is also an omaha game! It is an omaha game that is played exactly the same way as 5 card omaha. The one key difference is the pre flop street becomes the one community card street in terms of betting and where the game begins. So instead of a pre flop betting round, you will make your first raise or call on this “Tease” card. From there everything proceeds normally like in 5 card omaha with the flop, turn, river betting rounds.

There are also hi-lo variants of both games, where half the pot could be scooped with a qualifying low hand. There is just too much game, formats to talk any sort of strategy, although I already managed to get into a bit during the 5 card omaha discussion. We can save that for another time. For now, best of luck to you in tackling the slippery slopes of these new games!

Beginner Articles

How is Pot Limit Omaha Different From No Limit Hold’Em

While NLH and PLO have some similarities, there are several elements that cause the games to play very differently. The strength of made hands and draws are evaluated very differently in PLO. Equity advantages are also much narrower than in NLH.

The Basic Rules of Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)

If you are completely new to PLO, read this quick primer on the rules of the game. There are some key differences compared to NLH (e.g. you have to play exactly 2 cards from your hand), so you’ll want to be up to speed.

No Limit Omaha Strategy Books

How To Calculate The Pot In PLO

While you can always announce “Pot” and have the dealer figure it out, it’s important to know how to determine “pot” to calculate fold equity and value. You will also want to know the max potential bet size if you are re-raised.

Omaha Free Poker No Limit

Basic Pot Limit Omaha Strategy

No Limit Omaha Poker

If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to have a few basic guidelines to anchor your play. In a game where the complexity of pre-flop and post-flop combinations (both yours and opponents) is increased substantially, having a solid starting strategy is a key to success.