1. Visit a lot of poker rooms. You’re not going to find the juicy games if you don’t travel. Invest. Don’t worry about spending €250 on a flight to Barcelona if you play 10/20 No Limit Hold’em. It’s 12 Big Blings. It’s worth it if the game is good.

2. Talk to all the cardroom managers. Be a good sport, and explain them you are not a local. Try to get some info as to where the action is coming from. In the long run, when you frequent poker rooms you tend to win at – ask to be called when the game is juicy. Poker room managers will do this if they know you well. Gain their confidence, once you’re on the call-list, you’ve got a great advantage bankroll-wise.

3. Don’t slow down the game by complaining about the bad calls they make when they suck out. DON’T DO IT! You want them making these calls – and they’ll do it again. I’ve seen my KK, QQ & JJ’s get cracked by A4 and A5 in a two players-to-the-flop situation hundreds of times – but most of the time, these ‘winners’ end up going broke. Having them win temporarily is a good thing.

4. Don’t limp with big hands in juicy games. I realize authors such as Dan Harrington have said the absolute contrary, but thing is – juicy games see a lot of high-volume, cheap flops—and you don’t want that – not even with AQ. Raise, and raise big. In the end, EVERY big raise you make will get at least one or two calls, and every big raise will be pure profit in the long run. You’ll get called by any two cards (suited, haha) – and most of the time you’ll be able to take the pot down with any pair, seeing as it’s probably best. On a plus: a big bet after the flop will likely be called by middle pair or any draw – so don’t worry about slowplayin a pair or two, betting is best value in these games.

More to come soon!

I feel bad too — same opponent saw his aces get cracked in about two hours twice, by the same player…

I called his all-in with a “I sure hope you don’t have them this time”… He did have ‘m…

Got to love a little luck! Thanks, Poker Gods!

Suited connectors and small pairs are great hidden hands. If you hit the flop with a straight or a flush or trips, these hands can be very profitable. You need to understand that about 85% of the time this will not happen. But when it does you can use it to your advantage and rally clean up.

The ‘Rule of 5 and 10’ is a good rough guide for whether to call with these marginal hands.

1. If it costs you less than 5% of your stack pre flop then you should usually play.
2. If it costs you more than 10% of your stack pre flop you should usually fold.
3. If it costs you in-between these amounts then use your table knowledge to make the call.

When you are in the awkward in between stage of whether to call or fold you need to use all those notes you should have been making since the beginning of play. A good position on the table late or on the button is a good place to call. If the player making the raise is very tight and they suddenly raise 5 time the BB preflop this would be a red flag to fold.

If you hold the following, AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, AKo, or AQs – RAISE. The fewer players you are up against the greater your chance of winning. Players with weak hands should and mostly will fold so you have a better idea of what you are up against. Obviously there are some caveats to this. Be sensible. Watch the other players. If someone who has practically folded every hand they have been dealt for the last hour raises a huge amount and you are holding JJ chances are they have AA or KK and you should leave well enough alone.

You can call with the following; TT, 99, 88, 77, AQo, AJs, ATs, KQs, KQo, KJs, QJs. If you can get in really cheap the middle suited connectors are also worth playing in the late position. But as with above, if that tight player makes a huge raise just fold. Folding is free unless you are in the blinds. Calling only to fold leter can get expensive.

When the flop hits how your hand has developed is in the hands of the poker gods and that is a subject for another time.

You want starting hands that hold straight, flush and set potential, two pair is just not going to cut it in PLO.

The top 10 starting hands are below.

1 AKsAKs
2 AJsATs
3 AQsAQs
4 AJsAJs
5 ATsATs
6 A9sA9s
7 AxsAxs
8 JTs98s
9 KQsKQs
10 KJsKJS

Although even in the very best heads up hand in the game, AKsAKs, is only 65% favourite against a random 4 card hand. There are some quidelines to playing a starting hand. All four cards need to work together in some way. AKsAKs can lead to a straight, two nut flushes and two different sets.

It is better to learn to look for features in your hand that could lead to the nuts than learning by rote all the PLO starting hands. Look for cards that run together, high pairs and flush cards. I would favour a card with straight or flush potential over any set. Unless you are very lucky trips are vulnerable to straights and flushes.

The truth is PLO is a post flop game. The most important decision you make is whether to play on the flop. Looking for info on Omaha players? The biggest name is Sam Farha!