16 hours at Party ...

[Zim]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the Limit Omaha Hi-Lo scene, but following Buzz's advice ... I started playing the $.5/$1 tables at Party.

Bankroll start: $125
Bankroll finish: $200
Time: 16 hours/2 tabling
Win Rate: approximately 2 big bets a table/hr.

Some noob observations:

One table is too slow, but two tables is tolerable if you are actively surfing websites for more omaha advice, three tables will confuse when all those multiple, gapped straight draws come about.

Actually, one table will confuse when the above occurs.

Websites I recommend:

www.playwinningpoker.com
www.o8poker.com (also, check out the links section)
www.pokerlistings.com

And read everything posted by the Grandmaster Buzz.

Forget making fish lists. At these levels, they are all fish. Can't count the number of time I was raised on the river by someone holding middle pair ... I'm still baffled.

Many beginning articles talk about whether to raise or not. At these levels, its really quite simple. Try to get as much money in the pot as possible. That generally means limp/raise early, raise/re-raise late.

My first 8 hours were great at the table, then I loosened up over the next 4 hours after repeatedly watching middling hands win ... only to find myself losing terribly. It can be the most aggravating thing to watch top two pair win hand after hand ... only to cap the bets with your small boat and watch it sink.

The last 4 hours have been excellent, actually considering all the mistakes I made ... I'm surprised by the overal win rate. A solid player would have made double, easily.

Probably triple.

I approach the game differently now than 16 hours ago. Before, each hand I'd try to figure out the odds on every hand, hoping to find a hidden out to justify a marginal call.

Big mistake at these levels.

Just toss your weak and marginal hands, wait for a scooping or 3/4 opportunity ... then fire away. On this note, I'm most interested in PLO8, if the play is as bad there ... a fortune could be made.

Anyway, thanks guys for the help. Omaha Hi/Lo is a cool game. My only regret is that I scanned the various sites ... and there aren't many tables open. Party goes down to a couple at dead times. Absolute/Interpoker/Sultans all whither to nothing. So I think I might have to switch games to continue up in the limits.

Any thoughts?

Best,
Zim

[Ribbo]

Eventually you will get used to 4 tabling, on a nice big monitor with no overlap. Omaha/8 is pretty easy to see a good or bad flop and just play profitable fit or fold. It's only at PLO8 you have to start considering bluffs.

[Zim]

You're one of the PLO8 bad asses, question for ya ...

Would it be alright to jump into the PLO8 $25 NL scene? Or should I get more experience at limit first?

I couldn't help but think how much more money I could have made had I been playing PLO8 for the last 4 hours.

(ah, what am I saying. I probably would have gone broke within the first hour ...)

In any event, any recommendations are greatly appreciated. I read an article over at pokermafia.com and it got me fired up a bit regarding PLO8.

(I think of poker in terms of advantage play. As such, I've generally found it more profitable to play infrequently with huge edges rather than to grind away with small advantages.)

Thanks for any advice.

Best,
Zim

[Ribbo]

I started with limit. Limit teaches you with time the importance of good starting hands. The biggest mistakes are made preflop. PLO8 needs a very particular mindset, one which isn't each to come by. Yes the game is about pushing edges, you can read my thoughts about it http://www.ribbo.com/omaha2.htm . PLO8 is also grinding, but with a larger variance, although you can play it with a very small variance by playing the exactly opposite of the way I do. I would recommend for the $25 tables, no bluffing and show the guy on the button no respect whatsoever. If you're playing in a loose passive game, suited aces are your friend. Stick to limit until you can be certain you are winning at the game, (should take another 3 weeks before you know for sure) Then give pot limit a bash, but whatever you do, never play the NLO8 on pokerstars, it's a horrible game.