Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) Tips From a Pro: Samuel Fuller

Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is the second most popular variant of poker behind No Limit Texas Hold’em (NLHE). The game’s fast-paced action and high variance nature appeals to many players, particularly those with a proclivity for gambling.

PLO shares its DNA with NLHE but possesses some notable differences. Each player is dealt four-hole cards instead of two and they must use exactly two of them, combined with three of the community cards to make the best five card hand. The community cards arrive in the same way as in NLHE with a pre flop betting round, a flop, a turn, and a river with more betting rounds available after each of these streets has been dealt.

The Maximum Bet

Additionally, as the name implies, players cannot bet an amount greater than the pot. This reduces the variance of the swings in a game in which players will frequently flop strong made hands or draws and, naturally, lots of chips will enter the pot.

The maximum raise is also calculated according to the “pot”, which is calculated as follows: three times the previous bet or raise, plus the total of all the other bets placed. For instance, let’s say the small blind is $5 and the big blind is $10. If the player first to act elects to raise the “pot” he can raise to $35: (10 x 3) + 5 = 35. In the same way, if the next player to act elects to raise the “pot” he can now raise to $120: (3 x 35) + 10 + 5 = 120.

The Popularity of Pot Limit Omaha

Although PLO is becoming increasingly popular on the tournament scene, it is far more prevalent in cash games. It is the game of choice in many private/home games, as recreational players can enjoy greater opportunities to gamble, playing more pots, and standing a higher chance of winning poker hands. Make sure you have a solid foundation by reviewing our omaha cash game strategy guide.

One reason for this is because equities run a lot closer in PLO than they do in NLHE, as a result of the increased combinations of hands that are made available by each player having four-hole cards.

Consequently, players will consistently encounter situations in which they are a slight favorite or a slight underdog, rather than a significant favorite or a significant underdog. This can be attractive to those players who are accustomed to getting their money in as an underdog, as they will usually still have a meaningful amount of equity and typically won’t be as far behind when they are all in with the worst of it pre flop, on the flop, or on the turn.

Thus, in the short term they have a higher chance of success. So, where do the winning players gain their edge in PLO?

Where do the Winning Players Gain their Edge in PLO?

It is no secret that PLO is a high variance game and with it can come big swings. It is inevitable that even the best players will encounter their fair share of downswings. Some players will be more adept at dealing with such downswings than others. They may be more experienced and have learned how to deal with them before or they may have a stronger mental game and therefore be more proficient at making decisions based on information and not their emotions.

Sam Fuller in a Group Photo after PLO tournament

Conversely, for other players downswings can result in drastic changes to their game and cause them to go on tilt, leading to worse play. It may become tempting to play too many hands and enter pots with poor starting hands, as well as put lots of money in the pot with marginal holdings across later streets in order to try to “get even” or “get out of the hole.” Besides, the equities run close. We can only be so far behind, right?

Discipline in Pot Limit Omaha

Wrong. As all-ins are so frequent in PLO, repeatedly getting money in with the worst hand will be very expensive in the long term (even if a lot of the time you are only a small underdog) due to the sheer volume. Discipline is paramount and it starts pre flop.

Playing solid hands pre flop will make decisions on later streets simpler and lead to situations in which our hand dominates our opponent’s. Given that it is easier to make a strong hand in PLO than it is in NLHE there is usually less folding.

To exploit this, it is crucial to be selective and play hands that contain dominating features. For instance, it would be preferable to have the ace high flush draw over a seven high flush draw, or to have a big pocket pair over a small one. Being cognizant of such details will also ensure that our hand performs better in multi-way pots (pots in which we face more than one opponent); a common theme in PLO.

The strongest players will have a deep knowledge and understanding of game theory and will create and employ new strategies to exploit their opponents’ tendencies. As is true in all forms of poker, a knack for math will be valuable. Knowing probabilities helps inform decisions, as does the ability to calculate pot odds (and implied odds). Intuition is also key – understanding how the field plays certain spots will undoubtedly yield an edge. Such intuition coupled with strong technical ability is a lethal combination.

While the great game of Pot Limit Omaha continues to grow in cash game arenas around the world, it is also gaining traction in the form of tournaments. Many PLO players will relish the opportunity to take part in the plethora of Omaha events that this fast-approaching WSOP has to offer.

Sam Fuller is a poker player who specializes in PLO (Pot Limit Omaha). After discovering his passion for poker, what began as a leisurely pursuit evolved into a full-time occupation. He has played in some of the biggest tournaments in the world including the WSOP and the EPT. Sam enjoys tournament poker, though he predominantly focuses on PLO cash games.