PLO-5: Five Card Pot Limit Omaha

PLO Strategy: How to Win PLO 5?

Good strategy can't hurt when it comes to playing poker. Recreational players, as well as experts in different poker variants, can benefit from a well-thought-out plan on how to defeat any opponent.

5 Card PLO poker, although challenging, is extremely popular. Picking up a few tips before sitting at the poker table is a great idea. Here's how you can become the PLO mastermind!

Learn From 4 Card Pot Limit Omaha

A good starting point would be to look at the concepts you are familiar with from 4 Card PLO games and translate them to the 5 Card PLO. This is something very valuable because you are able to spot the similarities between two variants and use them to your advantage.

Of course, the key to success lies in understanding these similarities and differences. A good example would be the fact that with the 5 hole card present, the side cards play a vital role, in contrast to the fact that suited Kings are a lot less valuable.

Extra hole card in 5 Card PLO makes a big difference, which is something to be mindful of. At the same time, using what you already know can be a big help in building your PLO strategy.

Be Careful With the Slow Playing

Many players tend to evaluate their hand strength pre and post-flop. There is little place for slow playing in this variant of poker. In 5 Card PLO, you need more combined blockers to justify slow playing. Otherwise, you're giving your opponents an upper hand.

What qualifies as very strong hands changes, too. So although there is a place for slow play in PLO-5, you have to be aware of the fact that generally, there are fewer bluffs in this game.

Play Tight and Dominate

In 5 Card PLO games, cold calling increases. Players have more equity with the medium-strong hands, which means they are more motivated to enter the flop. It is normal for your VPIP to increase as you defend the blinds and cold call in position more often.

In PLO-5, similarly to 4 Card PLO, it's common for people to play too many hands. This is why you should tighten down because you need a hand that will beat other players.

Lead

The good strategy in 5 Card Pot Limit is not to shy away from betting higher when the opportunity presents itself (of course, if you are ready for such a strategy). Your opponents will have more equity on average against your value range.

Of course, this doesn't mean you should be reckless. The general rule is that you need more equity to be able to justify betting a hand with little equity against your opponent's range.

It's a good idea to step into the role of the preflop raiser. This way, you can prevent other players from bluffing you. Being more of a leader is very beneficial for you. With 5 cards, there are more potential blocking cards and a higher removal effect. There is more to gain in leading in heads up or multiway pots.

Aim for the Best Hand Possible

This might be relatively obvious for many players. The strongest hand has the biggest potential of winning. You should think strategically about what kind of hand you're entering the pot with.

It's tempting to enter the pot with, for example, a double suited hand, but when it comes to this variant of poker, it is often not enough to win the game. Even King-high suits sometimes just won't cut it.

Remember About Your Bankroll Management

As exciting as Omaha might be, it is not very smart to only chase the thrill. This is an especially useful tip for the begginers in PLO 5. Sticking with the games with the lower stakes is a great way to not exhaust your bankroll and gain the necessary experience. If you're not the poker expert, choose games that are suitable for your level.