PLO shortstacking strategy

23 Apr 2011 - by admin

Short stacking in Pot Limit Omaha is when a player will buy-in with the minimum amount allowed at the table and then wait for a hand to limp-reraise in an attempt to double up. While this strategy is typically frowned upon by some deep stack players, it is still a profitable way to play poker. In this article we will present you with a good Omaha short stacking strategy.

Basic Game Play Strategy

Short stacking in Omaha seems almost too simple, but sometimes the simplest things really work best. When you buy-in to a full ring game, you are going to put in the minimum amount possible which is usually 20 big blinds. At that point you will basically sit back and look for a premium starting hand. Suited and double suited aces or kings as well as big rundown hands like double suited K-Q-J-10 are the types of hands that you are looking for. At that point you will limp in and hope for another stack to raise you.

Once the raise occurs, you are looking to raise pot and get as much or your entire stack into the middle. What this does is trap a lot of dead money into the pot and sometimes other stacks will call to chase down some of that money. Should you not get all-in pre-flop, you will get the money in on the flop almost regardless of what comes. Depending on the aggression of your opponents, big stacks may offer your hand some protection by betting out other hands that could have beaten yours.

Table Selection

Be aware that many sites have taken steps to prevent short stacking as some players feel it interferes with their big stack strategy. As such, you will have to find games that allow players to buy-in with a minimum stack of 20 big blinds. After finding these tables, you need to evaluate the stats of the table to determine if it is a good table for your game.

A table with a high percentage of players seeing the flop and a high average pot size is perfect for a short stacking Omaha strategy. This means that there are usually raises pre-flop in most pots and a lot of potential dead money in the pot from people looking to catch something on the flop.

Tables with a low percentage of players to the flop and a high average pot size could be a possibility for short stackers but you have to be careful. Since there is a low percentage of players to the flop that means that possibly only big pots between strong hands are regularly playing out. Also, there will not be as much dead money. Your variance may be a bit higher here, but it can still present some profit potential.

Seat Selection

Once you find the type of table you want, you need to pick the best seat in order to execute your strategy. You should be looking to take a seat where the aggressive player or players at the table are to your left. This allows you to limp in before action gets to them, allowing them to raise the pot for you. If they sit to your right and you re-raise them, you will lose the chance for dead money at the table.

You may not have a choice where to sit in a game if there is a list. If that is the case, be willing to turn down a bad seat at the table in exchange for a chance for a better one later. It is pointless to take a seat where you cannot properly execute your strategy. Wait for a while and pick a better spot.

Omaha short stacking strategy is a true test of patience in Omaha. You have to have the patience to hunt for the right table, the right seats, and then the right hand in order to try and double-up.

Realize that this is not a strategy that will gain you a lot of respect for your play, but then again most of us play poker for the money and not to impress other people. By using the above Omaha strategy, you will make more money with short stacking. Good luck at the tables.

By: James Guill