One of the most popular forms of poker, outside of the US, is Pot Limit Omaha High (PLO). Through the Internet, PLO is growing in popularity in this country, but it's still rarely spread except for the upper-limit games in the south. Most cardrooms that spread PLO don't spread it any lower than $5-10 blinds or maybe even $10-25. On occasion, especially during the World Poker Open in Tunica, $2-5 and smaller games will be spread.
I have always had an interest in the game because of the big action it creates. I think the attitude of most professional players is that they like playing looser than they should, and this game allows you to open your starting requirements greatly. This creates a lot of action by swelling the size of the pot quickly.
Pots in Hold 'Em aren't contested the same as PLO pots, because it's tougher to make a good hand with two cards. Over half the time you take a flop in Hold 'Em, you will miss it and fold to a bet. In PLO, there's so many cards in your hand working for you, you can hit a lot more flops. You can get creative in your play, because almost no four-card hand is a favorite over another by much.
The hands you're looking to play are usually playable from most any position. I say this because in most standard PLO games today, you're almost always going to be able to get action from at least two or three players, if not half the table. This is again because people are getting good odds with hands that can win big pots after the flop. So, if you raise in first position with Ac Jc As Ts, don't be surprised to see half of the players calling. Try limping in with aces, since you have to hit a flop with them to feel comfortable playing them past the flop.
By limping in pre-flop with aces, you can create a big pot by enticing others to limp. Then, if anyone tries to raise from the back, you can re-raise, and get in a lot of chips heads-up.
That's the only time aces are a favorite pre-flop. If you can re-raise a late position raise, and get in the majority of your money right there, you're a favorite to win the pot. Even if he has a good hand and is no worse than 40-percent or better, you're still a favorite to win. Most of the time, they'll have common cards and be a bigger dog than that.
The hands I prefer to play are wrap-type straight draw hands, and suited aces along with them. My favorite hand is something like A T 9 8 double-suited with a suited ace. You've got a nut-flush draw, three working cards for a straight, and an emergency small-flush possibility.
Bigger paired hands with straight possibilities (and other flush draws too) are pretty good hands as well. Regular rundown-type hands, like 3 4 6 7, J T 8 9, and all other hands that are five cards apart or less, are worth seeing a flop too.
Once a lot of people have limped in, and your odds are really high, even junkier hands like K 6 7 8 with a suited king become playable. Maybe you can limp from there with any big pairs, like K K 2 3 rainbow or Q Q J 4. Whatever hands that you can flop top set, or nut draws to straights and flushes, now are all worth taking a flop.
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