PLO Tourney Strategy Guide

Since I have had success recently in PLO tournaments and FTOPS Event #2 is the KO PLO I thought I would not so humbly create a post about my "strategic thinking".



First a brief primer on starting hand selection:



Being dealt 4 cards means every player starts with 6 NLHE hands, caveat is that you do have to use 2 cards from hand. AA is the best hold'em hand but an Omaha hand consisting of AdAc9h4s is crap. AA is the only playable combination you hold. You have a pair and realistically need to flop an Ace to continue the hand if anyone shows strength.

A hand such as JsTd9s8d on the other hand consists of 6 mediocre NLHE hands and is an easy hand to play post flop. If you miss fold. If you flop 2p you also have a made straight or oesd. PLO requires ability to imagine possibilities on flop because realistically you should have near nuts or draw to nuts to compete for a big pot. Underboats are poison, 2nd straights & 2nd flushes are expensive.

Edward Hutchison developed a points system for determining starting hands to play, I don't use it but it does give a good picture of what hands are playable and what the win percentage is for a hand in pre-flop all in situation 9 handed. In general you want to restrict starting hand selection to 4 cards that "work together".



How to win a PLO tourney:

1.) In early stages of tourney never raise bad AA out of position. In PLO AA is just a pair.

2.) Cracking AA (or KK) hands is way to accumulate chips early. 4 midde connectors or 3 middle connectors and a pair are excellent AA cracking hands, double suited is nice but non-nut flushes are frequently punished. I am looking to flop a straight or set or top 2 or pair and oesd or wrap. Flopping nuts in PLO is nice but unless it is quads, big boat or straight flush you are vulnerable.

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Ks 4h Kd 2s]
bustedmonkey calls 60
CLock71 folds
WSOP4SURE folds
rired999 folds
RambelingE folds
OdynPL folds
skater3598 folds
Scotty47 raises to 150
bayne_s calls 90 this is crap KK hand but implied odds of flopping set are huge
bustedmonkey calls 90
*** FLOP *** [Kc Qs 6s]
Scotty47 checks
bayne_s bets 450
bustedmonkey folds
Scotty47 calls 450
*** TURN *** [Kc Qs 6s] [8c]
Scotty47 checks
bayne_s bets 1,350
Scotty47 raises to 2,490, and is all in
bayne_s calls 695, and is all in
Scotty47 shows [Ac 5c 7d As]
suddenly on turn he went from 2 to 15 outs the FCD aspect of PLO takes over
bayne_s shows [Ks 4h Kd 2s]
Uncalled bet of 445 returned to Scotty47
*** RIVER *** [Kc Qs 6s 8c] [Th]
Scotty47 shows a pair of Aces
bayne_s shows three of a kind, Kings
bayne_s wins the pot (5,440) with three of a kind, Kings

3.) Flop play in PLO is critical. Flopped straights are the most punished hand in PLO. Top set plus flush draw is 3:2 favorite against flopped straight that has no redraw. On flop of 589 holding 67 without redraw is in bad shape against QJT hands. It is important to observe who bets the naked crap flush draws. It is rare for a flop to occur in PLO where you are such a big favorite that the chaser does not have odds to call. Sizing bets so pot odds are not present after turn is sometimes required.

4.) You are going to have to hit some draws.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Th 7c 7d 9h]
skater3598 folds
Scotty47 folds
bayne_s has 15 seconds left to act
bayne_s calls 80
bustedmonkey folds
CLock71 folds
GottaRaiseYa folds
rired999 calls 80
RambelingE calls 40
OdynPL checks
*** FLOP *** [Kd 8h 6d]
RambelingE bets 320
OdynPL folds
bayne_s calls 320 I have 9 sure outs
rired999 calls 320 I would guess flush draw
*** TURN *** [Kd 8h 6d] [Qc]
RambelingE has 15 seconds left to act
RambelingE bets 1,280
bayne_s calls 1,280
I think Q adds 3 jacks as outs I don't have odds currently but think rired will call after I call
rired999 calls 1,280
*** RIVER *** [Kd 8h 6d Qc] [9c]
RambelingE checks
bayne_s bets 400
rired999 has 15 seconds left to act
rired999 folds probably missed flush draw
RambelingE calls 365, and is all in crying call
Uncalled bet of 35 returned to bayne_s
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bayne_s shows [Th 7c 7d 9h] a straight, Ten high
RambelingE mucks
bayne_s wins the pot (5,850) with a straight, Ten high
RambelingE stands up

5.) You will need to have your AA hands hold:
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [5d 6h Ac Ad]
CLock71 folds
GottaRaiseYa folds
rired999 calls 80
dak1616 calls 80
OdynPL folds
skater3598 folds
Scotty47 calls 80
bayne_s calls 40
bustedmonkey checks
*** FLOP *** [2s 4d Jd] gutter nut flush and overpair this is great flop for hand
bayne_s bets 200
skater3598 has been disconnected
bustedmonkey calls 200
rired999 folds
dak1616 folds
Scotty47 calls 200
*** TURN *** [2s 4d Jd] [Ah]
well I am behind 35 but can't slow down now I have 19 outs if trailing
bayne_s has 15 seconds left to act
bayne_s bets 1,000
bustedmonkey calls 1,000
Scotty47 folds
*** RIVER *** [2s 4d Jd Ah] [Td]
bayne_s bets 1,500
bustedmonkey has 15 seconds left to act
bustedmonkey folds I cannot fathom what he was chasing
Uncalled bet of 1,500 returned to bayne_s
skater3598 has reconnected
bayne_s mucks
bayne_s wins the pot (3,000)

6.) Pay attention to what opponent is raising:
Dealt to bayne_s [7h Qs Qh 5s]
bayne_s calls 1,600
wendy59996 folds
testiculars raises to 7,200
I have seen many AK raises out of him, I am committing to put him all in on flop
PassDaBlunt folds
johnriola folds
The Real TBone folds
dak1616 folds
Robin Quivers folds
Chad N Freude folds
bayne_s calls 5,600
*** FLOP *** [Js 3h Qd]
bayne_s bets 1,600
testiculars calls 359, and is all in
bayne_s shows [7h Qs Qh 5s]
testiculars shows [Ks Ah 7d 8h]
Uncalled bet of 1,241 returned to bayne_s
*** TURN *** [Js 3h Qd] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [Js 3h Qd 6h] [Qc]
bayne_s shows four of a kind, Queens

7.) 4 Card Bingo happens
Dealt to bayne_s [4c Ad Qs As]
wendy59996 folds
dolphinsex folds
POPPY K folds
johnriola folds
The Real TBone folds
dak1616 has 15 seconds left to act
dak1616 folds
Robin Quivers has 15 seconds left to act
Robin Quivers folds
Chad N Freude calls 1,200
bayne_s raises to 7,200
Chad N Freude calls 4,800
*** FLOP *** [8s 7d 4h]
Chad N Freude checks
bayne_s bets 12,400
Chad N Freude calls 10,786, and is all in
bayne_s shows [4c Ad Qs As]
Chad N Freude shows [9d Kh 5h 6c]
Uncalled bet of 1,614 returned to bayne_s
*** TURN *** [8s 7d 4h] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [8s 7d 4h 2d] [Jh]
bayne_s shows a pair of Aces
Chad N Freude shows a straight, Eight high
Chad N Freude wins the pot (35,972) with a straight, Eight high

InstantTragedy and LJ both got to hear my assessment of Chad N Freude's starting hand but desperation is a strategy. I don't recommend playing a hand with 2 gaps and a dangler.

8.) Rarely slowplay in PLO, it takes a huge flop to not get run down.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Ad Js 9d 9c]
dolphinsex folds
POPPY K folds
johnriola folds
The Real TBone folds
dak1616 folds
Robin Quivers folds
Chad N Freude folds
bayne_s calls 1,200
wendy59996 checks
*** FLOP *** [2h 8s Td]
bayne_s checks
wendy59996 bets 4,800
bayne_s calls 4,800
OESD and nut flush draw, jamming is also an option here but in general the 14% of the time the board pairs on the turn where I can fold vs. hitting one of my 14 sure outs 28% of the time doesn't cost me much because the set is pissed and tries to redraw > 50% of time.
*** TURN *** [2h 8s Td] [7d]
bayne_s checks
wendy59996 checks
*** RIVER *** [2h 8s Td 7d] [Qd]
bayne_s bets 7,200
wendy59996 calls 7,200
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bayne_s shows [Ad Js 9d 9c] a flush, Ace high
wendy59996 mucks
bayne_s wins the pot (28,800) with a flush, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 28,800 Rake 0
Board: [2h 8s Td 7d Qd]
Seat 1: wendy59996 (big blind) mucked [Kc Jh 6c Jd] - a pair of Jacks
I cannot explain this call

9.) At some point you are going to have to get lucky. I got moved to table with the 2 monster stacks, these two were raising every frckng hand. I felt need to stop it on these 2 hands:

Dealt to bayne_s [As 7c Ac Jc]
MattyDaCobra: Wow.
MattyDaCobra: Not even a six high straight.
UDontHaveMeBeat has 15 seconds left to act
UDontHaveMeBeat folds
belkerpacker folds
fivewholeleo folds
MattyDaCobra raises to 6,750
bayne_s raises to 23,250
Joey768 folds
MattyDaCobra calls 16,500
*** FLOP *** [Kh 9s 3c]
pvanharibo (Observer): GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAYNE
bayne_s bets 13,685, and is all in
MattyDaCobra calls 13,685
bayne_s shows [As 7c Ac Jc]
MattyDaCobra shows [Ah 2h Js Kc]
*** TURN *** [Kh 9s 3c] [Ad]
*** RIVER *** [Kh 9s 3c Ad] [Qc]
bayne_s shows three of a kind, Aces
MattyDaCobra shows two pair, Aces and Kings
bayne_s wins the pot (76,870) with three of a kind, Aces
Dealt to bayne_s [Kd Js Kc 7s]
belkerpacker folds
fivewholeleo folds
MattyDaCobra calls 3,000
fivewholeleo has reconnected
bayne_s calls 3,000
InstantTragedy (Observer): GOOOOO BAYNE!
Joey768 calls 1,500
fivewholeleo has returned
UDontHaveMeBeat checks
*** FLOP *** [3c Ks 5c]
Joey768 checks
UDontHaveMeBeat checks
MattyDaCobra bets 6,000
bayne_s raises to 30,000
Joey768 folds
UDontHaveMeBeat folds
MattyDaCobra calls 24,000
*** TURN *** [3c Ks 5c] [3s]
MattyDaCobra bets 72,000
bayne_s calls 43,870, and is all in
MattyDaCobra shows [Ah 7h 5s 5d]
bayne_s shows [Kd Js Kc 7s]
Uncalled bet of 28,130 returned to MattyDaCobra
*** RIVER *** [3c Ks 5c 3s] [9h]
MattyDaCobra shows a full house, Fives full of Threes
bayne_s shows a full house, Kings full of Threes
bayne_s wins the pot (159,740) with a full house, Kings full of Threes
MattyDaCobra: Good grief.

10.) FCDs are prevalent in PLO MTTs. Sometimes you have to be FCD:

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [Kh Kc 3c Ad]
bayne_s calls 5,000
dak1616 folds
Chad N Freude folds
wendy59996 folds
Joey768 calls 2,500
POPPY K checks
*** FLOP *** [9c Ac Jh]
Joey768 checks
POPPY K bets 15,000
bayne_s has 15 seconds left to act
bayne_s raises to 35,000
Joey768 folds
POPPY K calls 19,379, and is all in
bayne_s shows [Kh Kc 3c Ad]
POPPY K shows [7h Ts As 9s]
Uncalled bet of 621 returned to bayne_s
*** TURN *** [9c Ac Jh] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [9c Ac Jh 7c] [8c]
bayne_s shows a flush, Ace high
POPPY K shows a straight, Jack high
bayne_s wins the pot (83,758) with a flush, Ace high
POPPY K stands up

11) A bonus point from another tourney. The fold button is the one on the left:
Seat 1: RiverRat27 (16,164)
Seat 2: kayfaber (7,205)
Seat 3: bayne_s (46,017)
Seat 4: coogie64 (4,473)
Seat 5: Tilt City (55,451)
Seat 6: jcada99 (21,620)
Seat 7: bbaced (25,113)
Seat 9: klugman (28,743)
klugman posts the small blind of 500
RiverRat27 posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bayne_s [9s Ts 7d Tc]
kayfaber raises to 3,500
I really like these sorts of hands but kayfaber has already committed half of stack, since I am not favorite against big pair or even 3 broadway cards why double up shorty?
bayne_s folds
coogie64 folds
Tilt City folds
jcada99 folds
bbaced folds
klugman folds
RiverRat27 folds
Uncalled bet of 2,500 returned to kayfaber
kayfaber mucks
kayfaber wins the pot (2,500)
*** SUMMARY ***

I cashed in $4k PLO tuesday night, one of the 4 card bingo players with AK67 1 suit flopped a flush against my AAKJ ds.

2nd hand of PLO DS a flush chacsing donk drawing to 2nd flush went runner runner straight to put me in "Bayne position".

Apologies for timing out in Bodog tourney, the Stud 8 Skillz series introduced some interesting theoretical developments that Stud 8 experts will be attempting to incorporate in the coming years.

Mookie and FTOPS Wednesday, good luck to all in event #1!