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PLO is a poker game that has gained much traction in recent years, so its increasing presence in the live cash game environment shouldn't be a surprise.
How do offline PLO games play out?
We bet you will like what you're about to see if you give them a shot.
But what to expect exactly? Here's what you should know before your first PLO game in a casino.
Live Pot Limit Omaha is wilder than online
This is true even though live PLO is sometimes played eight or even nine-handed, which is the opposite of the six-max tables online poker has accustomed us to. As in Texas Hold'em, the increased number of players changes the ranges of hands you should play, making them tighter than the shorthanded ones.
As you might suspect, the reality is very far from the theory, as the average live pot limit game is much looser than its online counterpart. Live games are similar to micro stakes online; both regulars and recreational players adapt slowly since it's harder to spot obvious mistakes.
Additionally, poker players tend to be less patient in a live environment due to the slower nature of the game. As a result, people in live poker games tend to play splashier, overvaluing double-suited hands and entering big pots with marginal holdings. That's not all; the games are often not played exclusively in PLO4, as Five Card Omaha is getting increased recognition, promising even more action.
Live Pot Limit Omaha requires patience
The game's high variance and the people's immense willingness to gamble are an explosive mix, resulting in crazy live Omaha games. It's worth underlining that many PLO games play out much higher than their limit suggests. Therefore, you should prepare your bankroll accordingly.
Also, find out about the home rules of the game you're about to play since many live PLO players have a very loose approach, and they love to include forced bets, including multiple straddles (since big blind and small blind seem to generate not enough action).
If you're unsure about the proper strategy, consider buying in short during your first contact with a live PLO since it will help you realize your equity by capitalizing on other people's mistakes. It's a good idea for starting and learning the game's dynamics. It might not be enjoyable, but it should be profitable if you understand the game's principles.
Paying attention to what's going on is your number one task
Unless you're an experienced live grinder, live Pot Limit Omaha games might seem chaotic. Almost every pot is played multiway since people hate folding without seeing community cards. Quite often, different players have different stack sizes, which heavily influence your strategy, forcing you to pay close attention to what's happening.
Observe and find out: Who's splashy and who's not? Who plays every other hand preflop, and who has no idea how to evaluate their hand? Many inexperienced players believe they should play more when they have more hole cards. As a result, they lack the discipline that live Pot Limit Omaha requires.
Many players who are used to online dynamics wonder how they are supposed to win if almost nobody's folding.
The remedy is simple: you must play tighter and be patient. While it may look counterintuitive to fold mediocre hands with such great pot odds created by all the people already in the pot, you must be aware that while your pot odds are better, the reversed pot odds are much higher than usual. As a result, the relative strength of your hand needs to be greater than in heads-up pots.
Whenever you find yourself at a loose and call-happy table, you must rely on hands that do well in multiways. Therefore, you should play mainly with the hands that can make the nuts. Aim for flopping a top set, a wrap, or a nut flush draw whenever you're against many players. While it's not the most finesse strategy, your opponents likely will not care much and will pay you off anyway whenever you hit.
Most importantly, do not get attached to your overpairs and subpar draws or sets, as they will likely hurt you.
Overall, remember that live games are very low-level, but you have to respect their dynamics, and there's no way around it.
PLO trainer is always a helpful guideline
But you should not take its advice for granted in live games. While poker tools like PLO Genius will help you understand which Omaha hands to raise and which to call in certain situations, you must adjust your knowledge to what's going on around you since some concepts from PLO six max online do not translate well to a live environment.
It will take time, discipline, and patience to master live dynamics, but it will be worth it, as live PLO games are usually the best ones in the poker room.