Aggression can pay off in Pot Limit Omaha Poker and we’re going to look at two ways in which you can play hard and get rewarded by taking advantage of the best possible hands.
Don’t Slowplay
Pot Limit Omaha, unlike Texas Hold ‘Em, is not a game where slowly creeping up on others benefits players. Players that are new to Omaha frequently end up not getting the most out of their hands. More important, though, is the fact that in Pot Limit Omaha what constitutes “the nuts” changes from street to street and the nuts on the flop can be outdrawn easily. By not betting properly when you have the best possible hand, you allow your opponents to draw their outs for free.
When The Board Pairs, Go For It
This tip should be used with moderation, but it can be a very profitable play when deployed properly. The basic idea behind this is when the board pairs, most players will fold their drawn cards because they believe they’ll be drawing dead. Usually when somebody calls the flop continuation bet, they’ll be holding a draw, an overpair or top pair and they’ll usually raise with a set and certain two-pair hands as well. Since these players will have a range that’s weighted towards draws, weak overpairs and one-pair hands firing in situations where the turn ends up making a pair is about as logical as you can get.
If you want to make this play, there are some conditions that should be met. First of all, the flop should have had lots of possible draws available. Also, the turn should pair, preferably the top card. If the bottom card pairs, it’s not as profitable but it’s still worth betting most of the time.
In addition to those board qualifications, you should also be playing against an opponent with some experience. For this play to work the person you’re making it against has to have enough understanding that his draws are no longer as valuable because he could well be drawing dead against a turned full house. If you know that your opponent is a calling station, just give up and way for an actual hand to play.
Now that you’ve learned how aggression can pay off, take the time to develop a spin on them that can make you unpredictable at the tables.