the Donkey of Poker

Pot  Limit Omaha High poker is still relatively new to the scene for many players joining the felt, most are use to seeing the Holdem  game on TV and now venture online or with friends to the casino and now exposed to this new bread of poker.  It’s not new, just new to them giving players that do know the game a big advantage.  Here are some PLO High Tournament Tips in the different stages of the tournament.

Early Stages Low Blinds
Like any tournament the beginning has low blinds so we are going to be looking to gather up some cheap chips from poor players who are unfamiliar with the game.  There still are many who don’t know about the “must use 2 hole cards” from your hand rule and those that love betting on draws.  Learning the types of poker players at your table is worth paying off a few hands early in a tournament.

Middle Stages Med Blinds
With the blinds starting to go up your either ahead or behind in your starting starting stack… Time to make a few moves from what we learned in the early stages.  You will see more pre-flop action with pot size re-raises compared to more common limp calls in the early stages.  Identify the strength of your hand and image compared to the players who are creating the action.

Late Stages and the Bubble
You will either see large stacks or shorts stacks and a few in the average range.  This is because players have made a move in the middle stages which won or lost.  The pots have got huge to the point its all in or fold time, the bubble players who are on the short stack should be looking to push it in a multi-way pot with suited connectors.  Its time to get luck and pick up a big pot to get back into the game.  That being said, the bigger stacks shouldn’t shy away from getting into the action either vs these small stacks.  Knowing players are “making a move” you should be trying to isolate the action by pushing other stacks out.

Final Table and Heads Up
The final table of a PLO Tournament and your results really depend on your stack when you get there.  If your a small stack your going to be swallowed by the blinds in a hurry.  Next time you log into your favorite poker site just have a look around for a PLO  final table of a tournament.  Final table is really the only time you can play fancy and get away with stone cold bluffs.  Heads Up is all about position and control, raise from the button 100% of the time as your last to act on every street.