Pot-Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better

I recently received a lengthy e-mail from a person who has started to play pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better (high-low split with a qualifier of an 8 or lower for the low). This is a fascinating game that, in my opinion, is the most difficult poker form to master. Here are his questions and my answers:

“I am sometimes unable to make a quick decision when playing aces in six-handed PLO8 [pot-limit Omaha eight-or-better]. For example, I don’t know how to play unsuited aces without good low cards or facecards (like A-A-9-9 or A-A-7-J).”

Ciaffone: With pocket aces, the kind that you have means a lot. Having a second pair higher than 8-8 is of limited use, and I do not view A-A-9-9 as better than A-A-J-9. Having one card of 8 or lower with the aces is better than either of the two hands you give. Picture being up against a hand like K-Q-J-10. The hands you give are not premium Omaha hands when playing high-low. As for a reraise, if not short-stacked, I would want the A-A-2 combination under nearly all circumstances.

“Please check my plan with these hands preflop: If I am in a good position, I usually raise (or reraise) the pot.”

Ciaffone: You do not have a raising hand in PLO8 with either of the hands that you give if one or more players have entered the pot in front of you. I would raise only if I had a chance to pick up the blinds without a fight. Starting aggressively with a hand containing aces that cannot win low is not recommended.

“If I am in the blind and there is a raise from late position with shallow money, I usually reraise. If I am under the gun, I limp in with aces and hope to see the flop cheaply. The problem is, when I am in the blind or under the gun and there is a raise from late position with deep money, I don’t know how to play these aces.”

Ciaffone: A three-way pot kills you. You can call if heads up. I would not reraise with a high-only hand unless short-stacked and reraising all in against one player.

“Should I fold, or call, or raise?”

Ciaffone: If you have aces, the raiser normally has a bunch of low cards, including an A-2. I would not want to commit a lot of money to the pot when out of position with a moderate aces hand. See the flop and play accordingly. If the flop comes without a low draw, bet into the preflop raiser. You are playing one pair for the best high hand, so you do not want a field of multiple players.

“Another problem is, when I reraise the late-position raiser and get called, I often have to give up the pot after the flop.”

Ciaffone: If you limp-reraise with hands that cannot continue after the flop, you are making this play from out of position with relative garbage. You need A-A-2, or perhaps A-A-4-3 double-suited, to reraise, unless you are short-stacked.

“I put an emphasis on playing for high in PLO8, because I don’t like to get quartered. (I don’t play aggressively with only the nut low.)”

Ciaffone: I do not like to get quartered, but there are times when you should be aggressive with just the nut low. The other players do not like to get quartered, either.

“Some people like to play for low and they sometimes give me a lot of pressure with only the low hand.”

Ciaffone: It is very often right to use the nut low as a basis for pressuring opponents.

“For example, in six-handed PLO8 online, there was a raise from a late-position player who often plays only for low. I was in the big blind with J-6-3-2 double-suited and called (it may have been a bad decision).”

Ciaffone: Yes, it was a poor decision. Every time you enter a pot, your whole stack is potentially at risk. Pot-limit Omaha, whether played high only or eight-or-better, is a terrible game in which to defend your blinds, because position is so important. It is a game of implied odds, not pot odds. When you have a bad hand and bad position, you are a bad player when you chase after the little bit that you have put up as the small or big blind.

“The flop came J-4-3 rainbow. I bet the pot, and got called.”

Ciaffone: I agree with betting right out here, although I would not have been in your spot.

“The turn was a 9. I checked, and my opponent bet the pot.”

Ciaffone: When the low does not arrive, you should bet the pot again.

“I knew that he usually didn’t have good high hands, so I decided to make a move, and check-raised the pot. He called.”

Ciaffone: You do not have enough hand to check-raise. You are not trying to get your opponent committed to the pot; you are trying to get him out!

“The river card was an 8. I checked, and he bet the pot. I thought for a while, and called. (It may have been a bad call; I sometimes fold in similar situations.) He had the nut low and nothing for high, and the pot was split.”

Ciaffone: I would have bet the turn and check-called the river — if he was still in on the river.

“This may not be a good example. I don’t know how to play when there’s a big bet from a player with a possible low-only hand, and all I have is a mediocre high and low hand.”

Ciaffone: If you have a weak hand for high and a weak hand for low, the way to play it is clear; you fold. Your hand can’t take the heat.

“Some people play a low hand very aggressively, and I have a hard time playing with them. Is playing for low or pushing with only a low hand in PLO8 a good strategy in general?”

Ciaffone: It is a possible tool that you can use.

“How should I play low-only hands? I usually play them passively (check and call), especially without position.”

Ciaffone: I cannot give you a general rule. Pushing a low draw or a made low is one of the tools that you sometimes use in PLO8. Even a good player can be wrong in making this kind of a decision. You need to have a good feel for situations in which your opponent cannot stand the money pressure.

“I hesitate reraising preflop without aces.”

Ciaffone: A-2 with another low card, a 3 or a 4, can easily be worth a preflop raise, especially when you have good position.

“I sometimes reraise with A-2-9-9 or A-3-6-6 (good low cards and a pair) from late position to vary my play, but I don’t know what to consider when reraising light.”

Ciaffone: These are poor reraising hands, because the pair is a liability, not an asset. I seldom raise with this kind of hand, let alone reraise.

“If there’s some guideline for reraising preflop in shorthanded PLO8, please let me know.”

Ciaffone: Seldom raise without an ace; seldom reraise without A-A-2.

Bob Ciaffone has authored four poker books, Middle Limit Holdem Poker, Pot-limit and No-limit Poker, Improve Your Poker, and Omaha Poker. All can be ordered from Card Player. Ciaffone is available for poker lessons: e-mail [email protected]. His website is www.pokercoach.us, where you can get his rulebook, Robert’s Rules of Poker, for free. Bob also has a website called www.fairlawsonpoker.org.