Switching from Omaha to Omaha Hi-Lo...

Since many people these days are realizing how tough it can be to make money in Texas Hold’em, the mass exodus continues towards the game of Omaha.  However, once players get to Omaha a lot of them find that they’d like to try Omaha Hi-Lo as well.  But you should never jump right into the game of Hi-Lo unprepared because there are a lot of differences between the two games.  Here are some tips to help you make the switch.

Bluffing

One of the biggest adjustments you need to make from Omaha to Omaha Hi-Lo is totally giving up the tendency to bluff on the river.  If you bluff on the river in Omaha Hi-Lo, there’s a very good chance you will get called because other players will at least think they have a chance at the low hand.  In short, avoid bluffing on the river in Hi-Lo.

Starting Hands

Omaha players often get very excited when they see a hand like A-A-K-K.  It gives them the best shot to hit a nut hand and take down the pot.  But in Omaha Hi-Lo, you want to get hands that will allow you to get both the high and low hand and scoop the entire pot.  This means you’ll want cards that are both high and low like A-A-2-3.  If you manage to get a hand like this, you’ll have a chance at getting a high and low nut draw.

Getting Quartered

Another thing to watch out for in Omaha Hi-Lo is getting quartered.  That’s because there will be times when two people will tie for the low hand and must split the bottom part of the pot.  This becomes a lot worse when a person makes a lot of raises and bets in an attempt to win the low pot.  If you’re only going for the low part of the pot, be careful because you could end up spending a lot more money than it’s worth trying to get half of the pot.

Changing Gears in No-Limit Hold’em...

Make no mistake about it: No-Limit Hold’em is all being able to read your opponents.  That’s why so many aggressive players are able to be successful in this poker variation because they have the ability to find passive players and exploit them.  Unfortunately though, some aggressive players try to act like poker is full of passive players and use the same strategy all of the time.   And when this happens, the table will figure the overly aggressive player out and start to call everything they do.

The only way to avoid this is to switch up your style of play to keep others guessing.  If you’ve been playing aggressive and getting away with semi-bluffs while not being taken to the showdown a lot then you might want to play a little tighter.  The reason you’ll want to play tighter is because the players who still think you’re being overly aggressive will be willing to call all of your supposed semi-bluffs and second-rate hands.  When this starts to happen, you’ll be able to reap the rewards of more chips as the other players fall into your trap. 

However, you don’t want to get stuck here though since others will adjust to this too eventually.  When they do adjust to your tighter playing style, you should switch back to playing more aggressive to keep them off balance.  The key when switching styles is to read how the table perceives you at any given moment.  If the table thinks that you’re playing one way, you need to change gears and start playing the opposite way to throw them off.

Shorthanded Limit Hold’em Tips...

Most people cut their teeth in poker through full table games.  It’s what is offered throughout most online and live poker rooms and it also helps gaming establishments bring in more money.  However, there are plenty of players who choose to step away from the norm and try their hand at shorthanded Limit Hold’em games.  Since the game is becoming more and more popular, let’s take a look at some tips for how people can improve their Limit Hold’em game.

The first thing you really need to do more of in shorthanded games is be aggressive.  The reason for this is that the blinds will come around much quicker than in full games and you need to raise and re-raise more often to take down hands.  The key is to force action with most hands that are playable.  If you don’t play aggressively in shorthanded games then you will lose money due to the blinds.

Another tip for Limit Hold’em is to open up your hand selection more.  For instance, if you only think A-10 is playable from middle position then you might need to start playing A-8 in middle position too.  Remember, there are less people at the table which also means that less premium hands will be in play too.  With this being the case, you need to be able to play a wider range of hands.

One more thing to keep in mind when playing shorthanded Limit games is that you should limp in from earlier position more often too.  Positioning on the table shortens up in shorthanded play so you’ll have more freedom to attempt to see hands with cards like K-j, J-10, etc.  Make sure to utilize these tips next time you step onto a shorthanded table.

Pot-Limit Betting Tips...

Pretty much everyone who gets into poker starts out with Limit or No-Limit Hold’em.  So learning the betting ropes for these two games really isn’t a big deal to most people.  However, once people start getting more adventurous, they like to branch out into new games like Pot-Limit Hold’em.  Unfortunately, many people don’t know much about the betting basics of Pot-Limit Hold’em so it’s always a good idea to go over them before starting play. 

The first thing you should keep in mind is that Pot-Limit is a game all to itself.  It doesn’t utilize all of the mathematics of Limit Hold’em, yet doesn’t use all of the reading skills that No-Limit does either.  Instead, it combines the two elements with a little more emphasis on No-Limit Hold’em.  That’s because the pot odds aren’t always so good in Pot-Limit and you have to be able to read opponents to decide whether or not to make a call.

Another important element of Pot-Limit is being able to control the pot.  You have to be able to control the pot if you want to capitalize on other players’ mistakes and minimize losses on hands you need to get out of.  The best way to do this is by making value bets which will help you to get more money in the pot when you have the nuts and keep the pot low if you hold a second rate hand.

One more thing you need to do in Pot-Limit Hold’em is be mindful of your bets because they can have a huge impact.  For instance, even a $5 wager can have a huge impact down the line as more bets and raises are made.  So you have to keep in mind the size (and simple act) of your wagers even more so in Pot-Limit.  Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to being a better Pot-Limit bettor.

Doyle Brunson does It All: Inducted into...

Doyle Brunson’s legend in poker will be enshrined for centuries to come.  He has not only won numerous tournaments, WSOP bracelets, and other accolades, but he has also become legendary for games played in dusty Texas saloons well before he ever hit the bright lights of Las Vegas.  By the time everything is said and done, there may never be a poker player that’s done as much throughout his life as Doyle Brunson has in the game.

But what’s amazing about Doyle Brunson is that he has been so much more than just a felt jockey during his 76 years.  This was recently proved when Brunson was elected into the Hardin-Simmons University Hall of Fame.  For those who’ve never known Doyle to be more than a poker player, he was also a standout basketball and track star during his days at HSU.  Of course, the induction into the Hardin-Simmons Hall has been a llong overdue as Brunson will tell you.

Doyle told the media, ““I know a lot of people went to bat for me, and they were more anxious for this to happen than I was at this point.  I felt a little snubbed, but on the other hand I did understand the reasons.”  The reasons Brunson is talking about include the fact that he became a famous poker player out of a Baptist University.  With this being the case, HSU looked down upon his induction into the HOF for many years.

Fortunately, the right thing has finally been done and Brunson is in.  He’s definitely deserving of the honor too since he even drew NBA attention during his time at the college.  A broken leg ended that dream, but also openned up possibilities that he never could have imagined outside of basketball.