Pot Limit Omaha Hi-lo Tournaments are available on a large number of online poker sites. The strategic adjustments required during the stages of these tournaments mean that the thinking Omaha hi-lo player has a definite advantage over the field. This article looks at 5 tips which will improve your pot limit Omaha hi-lo tournament results today.
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Tournament Tips #1 – Take Advantage of Weaker Opponents
The early stages of Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo tournaments are characterized by many inexperienced opponents. There are plenty of chips to be won during the first few blind levels and your strategy should be adjusted to take advantage of this. Play hands with scoop potential in good position and raise to isolate those players who are playing weak hands and going too far with them. This is particularly the case when you flop a strong draw – for example a nut low plus a flush draw. It is easy to find yourself in situations where you are guaranteed half of the pot and have ‘freeroll' outs to the other half. If you do not take advantage of weak opponents during the early stages then someone else will!
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Tournament Tips #2 – Getting Quartered Matters
In a pot limit Omaha hi-lo tournament you need to be aware of the danger of being quartered. This happens when you share the low side of the pot with the high side going to an opponent. Pot limit betting means that this can be very expensive in terms of chips lost. Situations in which you are stuck between 2 opponents raising and have draws only to one side of the pot need to be avoided. It can often be better to fold a potential nut draw only and wait for a more favorable situation.
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Tournament Tips #3 – Scooping The Pot
Your objective for every hand in a pot limit Omaha hi-low tournament should be to scoop both the high and low side of the pot. Hands containing low suited cards are considered premium starting hands. They have the potential to make straights and flushes as well as nut low hands. High-only hands will scoop the pot approximately 30% of the time and can be played for small bets pre-flop. Medium rank hands such as 7-8-9-Q must be avoided. The danger with these hands is that someone makes a higher straight when you hit the top end – and you end up sharing the pot with a low hand when you make the smaller straight.
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Tournament Tips #4 – Adjusting to High Blinds
Observing how your opponents react to the rising blinds is an important factor in pot limit Omaha hi-lo tournament play. This becomes even more important when you are approaching the bubble. Some players will tighten up to try and reach the money presenting you with an excellent opportunity to steal their blinds.
As the blinds and antes increase stack sizes become more significant. Opponents with very large stacks and very small stacks are more likely to call your raises. Conversely those with medium sized stacks may be less likely to fight without premium hands – they are comfortable with the chips they hold and do not want to risk those chips without a good reason.
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Tournament Tips #5 – The Final Few Players
By the time the final table gets down to the last few players the jumps in prize money can be significant. While you should still focus on hands with potential to win both the high and low sides of the pot the short handed nature of the situation means that your requirements for entering a pot should go down significantly. Strategy adjustments at the end of a pot limit Omaha hi-lo tournament include watching opponents closely to assess who is ‘playing to win' and who is playing to move up the money. It is important to be the aggressor rather than the caller at all stages of a tournament – when you are down to the final few this becomes critical.
