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Double the Fun with Pot Limit Omaha Poker (PLO)
The game for thrill seekers.
Experience the excitement of PLO only on Natural8!
What is Pot Limit Omaha Poker?
In Pot Limit Omaha rules, you play with a "Pot Limit". This means that the maximum bet depends on the size of the pot itself. Unlike No Limit variants, you won't always have the possibility to go “All-In” in any given hand.
Do note that when playing on Natural8, pot limit will be calculated excluding the antes collected (pre-flop). For example, if the total pot collected is $100 and $20 is from antes, then the betting limit will be $80 on top of the players call amount.
Omaha Poker Rules
Omaha Poker is very similar to Texas Hold’em. For example, the hand ranks remain the same. However, there are a couple of different game-changing factors.
Firstly, instead of two hole cards each player is dealt four hole cards. Having more hole cards means that it’s almost impossible to win the pot with just high cards and that the probabilities of hitting a nut flush and full house are now higher.
Secondly, when playing Omaha poker, players must make the best possible hand using exactly two of their hole cards (no more and no less) and three from the five community cards.
So if your hole cards are 3♠ 5♣ 9♦ A♥, and the community cards are 2♠ 5♥ 10♥ Q♥ K♥, you do not have an A♥-High Flush (5♥ 10♥ Q♥ K♥ A♥), as you have only used one hole card, rather than the two necessary, but instead have a pair of 5’s (5♣ 5♥ Q♥ K♥ A♥).
Positions
Big Blind
The player on the left of the small blind. The big blind is the same as the minimum bet size.
Small Blind
The player immediately left of the dealer has to post the small blind.
Dealer
Each hand has one designated dealer. The dealer position determines the small and big blind positions. The dealer button is passed clockwise after every hand.
Actions
In each round of betting, the player has the option to take one of the following actions:
Fold
The player feels they can't win the hand, so they forfeit any chips they have in the pot. They give their hole cards back to the dealer without showing them to anyone else. Players who fold will then be out of the game and will not be able to return in the middle of the hand.
Check
If there is no new bet, the player can pass the bet to the next player without betting or folding. But if another player raises before the round of betting is complete, the player will then need to call, re-raise, or fold.
Bet
The player bets a certain amount based on the strength of his cards (or they can bluff if they're feeling adventurous). The bet must be more than the Big Blind.
Call
If a bet has been made before it reaches the player, they can choose to call to match the amount of current bet. If they don't have enough to match the bet but still want to play, they can go ""All-In,"" but can only win the number of chips they have contributed to the pot.
Raise
The player can choose to bet more than the other bets that have been made so far. Bear in mind that it has to be at least double any previous bets made in that particular round.
All-in
The player can risk it all and bet or raise their full stack (the total number of chips they possess), leaving nothing behind.
Betting Rounds
Just like Texas Hold’em, there are four betting rounds during a hand of Omaha.
Pre-Flop
Everybody gets their first four cards (hole cards)
The betting round takes place after the players receive their hole cards and before the flop.
The Flop
Three Community cards are dealt
After the first three community cards are dealt face up on the table, a betting round takes place as you combine two of your four hole cards and all three community cards to make your best five-card combination.
The Turn
Another community card is dealt
The fourth community card is dealt and a third betting round takes place. The player must combine two of their hole cards with three of the four community cards on the table to make their best five-card hand.
The River
The final community card is dealt
The fifth and final community card is dealt and the last betting round takes place. The player uses two of their hole cards and combines them with three from the five community cards to make their best hand.
The Showdown
If there are two or more players left, they go to showdown
When there are two or more players who are still in play after the river, it’s time for a showdown. Once all betting is done, the player with the strongest hand is determined and they take the pot. If the showdown ends in a tie, the pot is split evenly among the winning players.
PLO-5: FIVE IS BETTER THAN FOUR
Pot Limit Omaha is perhaps the most played poker game in online poker rooms after Texas Hold’em. Due to its popularity, many other variants were created, such as the Pot-Limit version of Omaha Hi-Lo. However, one of its most popular variant is 5 card Pot Limit Omaha, aptly named PLO-5.
PLO-5 Strategy
Pot Limit Omaha is a nuts game, but when you add the PLO-5 to the mix, the game becomes even more challenging. Pocket Aces or Kings rarely win, but on top of that, flushes and straights are not unusual. In this game, you should always aim for the nut draw.
When you are playing PLO-5, your ranges as a player should be tighter because all the players have 5 cards, and even chasing after straights and flushes doesn't guarantee the winning hand.
Be Careful With the Slow Playing
Many Omaha 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 beginners who are playing with real money 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 a poker expert, choose games that are suitable for your level.
PLO Table Information
| Stakes | Blinds | Buy-ins | Rake (%) | Rake Cap (2~3) | Rake Cap (4+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | $10 / $20 | $200 ~ $2000 | 5% | $15 | $30 |
| $5 / $10 | $100 ~ $1000 | 5% | $7.50 | $15 | |
| $2 / $5 | $50 ~ $500 | 5% | $3.75 | $7.50 | |
| Middle | $1 / $2 | $20 ~ $200 | 5% | $2 | $4 |
| $0.5 / $1 | $10 ~ $100 | 5% | $1 | $2 | |
| $0.25 / $0.5 | $5 ~ $50 | 5% | $0.50 | $1 | |
| Low | $0.1 / $0.25 | $2.5 ~ $25 | 5% | $0.38 | $0.75 |
| $0.05 / $0.1 | $1 ~ $10 | 5% | $0.15 | $0.30 | |
| $0.02 / $0.05 | $0.5 ~ $5 | 5% | $0.08 | $0.15 | |
| $0.01 / $0.02 | $0.2 ~ $2 | 5% | $0.03 | $0.06 |
PLO-5 Table Information
| Stakes | Blinds | Buy-ins | Rake (%) | Rake Cap (2~3) | Rake Cap (4+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $0.01 / $0.02 | $0.50 ~ $2 | 5% | $0.03 | $0.06 |
| $0.02 / $0.05 | $1 ~ $5 | $0.08 | $0.15 | ||
| $0.05 / $0.10 | $2 ~ $10 | $0.15 | $0.30 | ||
| $0.10 / $0.25 | $5 ~ $25 | $0.38 | $0.75 | ||
| Middle | $0.25 / $0.50 | $10 ~ $50 | 5% | $0.50 | $1 |
| $0.50 / $1 | $20 ~$100 | $1 | $2 | ||
| $1 / $2 | $40 ~ $200 | $2 | $4 | ||
| High | $2 / $5 | $100 ~ $500 | 5% | $3.75 | $7.50 |
| $5 / $10 | $200 ~ $1,000 | $7.50 | $15 | ||
| VIP Games (Standard) | $25 / $50 | $1,000 ~ $5,000 | 5% | $25 | $50 |
| $50 / $100 | $2,000 ~ $10,000 | $50 | $100 | ||
| $100 / $200 | $4,000 ~ $20,000 | $100 | $200 | ||
| $200 / $400 | $8,000 ~ $40,000 | $200 | $400 | ||
| VIP Games (Ante) | $25 / $50 ($10) | $2,000 ~ $10,000 | 5% | $25 | $50 |
| $50 / $100 ($25) | $4,000 ~ $20,000 | $50 | $100 | ||
| $100 / $200 ($50) | $8,000 ~ $40,000 | $100 | $200 | ||
| $200 / $400 ($100) | $16,000 ~ $80,000 | $200 | $400 |
VIP Games
| Table Name | Blinds (Ante) | Buy-ins | Rake (%) | Rake Cap (2~3) | Rake Cap (4+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VO Standard | $25 / $50 | $1,000 ~ $5,000 | 5% | $25 | $50 |
| $50 / $100 | $2,000 ~ $10,000 | $50 | $100 | ||
| $100 / $200 | $4,000 ~ $20,000 | $100 | $200 | ||
| $200 / $400 | $8,000 ~ $20,000 | $200 | $400 | ||
| VO Deep | $25 / $50 | $2,500 ~ $10,000 | 5% | $25 | $50 |
| $50 / $100 | $5,000 ~ $20,000 | $50 | $100 | ||
| $100 / $200 | $10,000 ~ $40,000 | $100 | $200 | ||
| $200 / $400 | $20,000 ~ $80,000 | $200 | $400 | ||
| VO Ante | $25 / $50 ($10) | $2,000 ~ $10,000 | 5% | $25 | $50 |
| $50 / $100 ($25) | $4,000 ~ $20,000 | $50 | $100 | ||
| $100 / $200 ($50) | $8,000 ~ $40,000 | $100 | $200 | ||
| $200 / $400 ($100) | $16,000 ~ $80,000 | $200 | $400 | ||
| $500 / $1,000 ($200) | $100,000 ~ $200,000 | $500 | $1,000 | ||
| VO Straddle | $200 / $400 ($200) | $80,000 ~ $200,000 | 5% | $200 | $400 |
*3-bet pots preflop are raked. In a single raised pot preflop where everyone folds, there is no rake. All pots that see a flop are raked.
*All Omaha tables are 6-max
