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Pot Limit Omaha / Marcus Bateman / 02 November 2010 / Leave a Comment

Slow playing is a generally over used and over rated concept in poker, but nowhere is this more so than in Pot Limit Omaha.

One of the most interesting and profitable spots that can arise in Pot Limit Omaha is a scenario where you flop the nut full house, and actually want to bet out immediately. This usually comes in the form of hands where you flop the nut full house with a pair in your hand, and bet out hoping for someone to have made trips with the lower cards on the board.

Say you get involved in a four way pot with a hand like 8c8sAsKc and the flop comes out 8d6h6d. Here you want to start building the pot as soon as possible, as you will most likely get action from anyone holding a six (very likely in a four way pot on the whole), as well as possible action from draws here, due to players thinking that you would never lead such a strong hand straight away.

There is little point ever slow playing your hand in this type of scenario. Not only is giving free cards actually a big mistake here (in multi way pots many over pairs may be out there, meaning many cards over an eight on the turn could spell disaster for you), but betting out also disguises your hand somewhat against weak players who think you would never bet the boat here (after all, they never do), as well as immediately getting action from those players holding a six who think they have a big hand here. This is a classic spot where betting will often win you a big pot straight away, but checking will lead to you winning a small one on a later street, or even losing a big one as someone outdraws you.

Slow playing is a generally over used and over rated concept in poker, but nowhere is this more so than in Pot Limit Omaha. Pretty much every hand is vulnerable in this game, and with the edges so small, you need to generally push as hard as you can every time you flop big to try and maximise the chances of you winning a big pot. Next time you flop a monster and think of checking, make sure the situation is right - you may be losing a huge amount of value by not betting out.

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