Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) is poker's second most popular variant, featuring four hole cards and bigger swings than Hold'em. Success requires understanding critical differences.
Four Card Complexity: You receive four hole cards but must use exactly two for your final hand. This restriction surprises beginners who assume four cards mean stronger hands. Often, having four cards to a straight means you actually have fewer straight possibilities.
Starting Hand Selection: Premium PLO hands are coordinated—suited, connected, and containing high cards. AAxx with suits, KKxx double-suited, and JT98 double-suited are examples. Avoid dangler hands (three connected cards plus one unrelated).
Runout Volatility: PLO features massive swings due to complex drawing situations. Multiple opponents frequently have significant equity. Your 60% favorite in Hold'em might be 40% in PLO against the same opponent range.
Drawing Hands Value: Draws are immensely valuable in PLO. Thirteen-out wraps (straight draws) with flush draws create near-coin-flips against top set. Don't slow-play strong hands—charge opponents correctly and protect against numerous draws.
Pot Limit Betting: Maximum bets equal the pot size, limiting aggression compared to no-limit. Calculate pot-sized bets by adding the pot plus previous bets plus your call, then betting that amount. This complexity allows creative bet sizing.
Position Importance: Position matters even more in PLO than Hold'em. Complex draws and multi-way pots make playing out of position extremely difficult. Tighten significantly when out of position.
Set Mining: Small pocket pairs lose value in PLO because sets frequently lose to better hands. You need set plus additional equity (flush draw, straight draw) to profitably continue. Bare sets in multiway pots are often unprofitable.
Nut Advantage: The nuts changes frequently in PLO. Always consider whether your strong hand is actually best. Top set on a flush board loses to flushes. Weak flushes lose to better flushes. Drawing to non-nut hands invites disaster.
Omaha Hi-Lo: Split-pot Omaha awards half the pot to the best low hand (five unpaired cards eight or below). Starting hands should contain low cards, ideally suited and connected. A2xx with suits and straight possibilities are premium.
Bankroll Requirements: PLO variance far exceeds Hold'em variance. Maintain 50-100 buy-ins for your stake, double typical Hold'em recommendations. Winning players experience longer, more severe downswings.
Game Selection: PLO attracts action-seekers and gamblers. Games are often softer than comparable Hold'em stakes. However, PLO requires more study time to master its complexities.
Common Mistakes: Overvaluing single-pair hands, drawing to non-nut hands, playing too many hands from early position, and underestimating variance. PLO punishes Hold'em habits.
Responsible Gaming: PLO's action and large swings can be addictive. Maintain strict bankroll management and recognize when swings affect your mental game. Seek help if PLO's volatility triggers unhealthy gambling behaviors.