This post is about as sincere as I could be.
We all learned from Smash that position by far IS the MOST important factor in any Pot limit game. Before I get into my points, here is some of the highlights by Smash,
- The positional advantage in any pot limit game is huge, simply because the player in position has much, much, much, much more control over pot size than the player out of position. In a game like 08 where you get to make so many clear decisions after the flop, it's massive
- There really aren't any hands that play well after the flop out of position in PLO8.
- PLO( 8 ) is a game of discipline and position where you scoop with the nuts
- When you're in position you can hammer the pot when you have the made hand, not when you're drawing
- Position is *by far* the most important factor in PLO and PLO8. The way you make money in these games is to put yourself into situations where you can control the pot size on the later betting rounds. This requires being in position postflop on the turn and the river where nearly all the money is made in PL games.
- The only time to play any hands in early position in PLO or PLO8 is if you can get 75% of your stack or more in preflop with a great hand. Otherwise you should be folding *everything*.
- You make money in PLO and PLO8 on the later betting rounds. You make money on the later betting rounds by controlling the size of the pot. You controll the size of the pot by being in position.
- Winning the minimum and losing the maximum isn't how you make money at PLO8.
- I'd rather have 6789 rainbow on the button than AA23 double suited in the BB in PLO8, because I'm probably going to make money with the terrible hand and lose it with the great one.
Yes I agree that position is everything at higher pot limit games. But at limits 400 or below where many tables are LOOSE and PASSIVE, if you only wait to attack with position and playable hands, YOU ARE WASTING A LOT OF MONEY-MAKING OPPORTUNITIES.
So, Pot limit is about position. But what is poker about? It's about minimizing your loss, and maximizing your winning. It's about exploiting your opponents' weakness and maximize them.
At lower limits, players don't lie. IF they lie(bluff), it's very easy to decipher their messages.
What are the common mistakes that many players have at lower limit?
- They play way too many hands
- They raise out of position
- Once they have a playable hand, many of them are unlikely to let go ("I gotta win this pot, I've waited this AA49 so long that I've to put all my money in no matter what the flop is...")
- "I am on the button (GREAT POSITION), I've turned my nut low on the board 5543 and my hand is A28K, I should scoop this pot, I need to put my money in now even though one players potted, one called, and another repotted..." (Actually that player would have never thought about that, he would be happy to put all his money in since he's got the NUT LOW, hey it's UNCOUNTFEITABLE!)
- They chase in very unfavorable odds
- They make STUPID bluffs
...
If you fail to discover their weaknesses and make adjustments accrodingly, you are missing many chances to increase your winnings. Yes if the table is tight and aggressive, you have to tighten up, and utilize your position more. But if the table is weak loose where everyone limps, and players like to chase, and they like to call all the way even they are chasing dead, I would say hey you gotta limp with your A267 UTG there, you want the flop comes 345 so you can have double nuts so you can kill the bastards playing with A37Q, A2xx, AA79 and who will call you all the way.
But still, if you are playing oop, you have to fold a lot too on the flop. But you need to realize that your hunting for scooping opportunities, to get a lot of villains' stacks in one shot (or two, I won a player's about $250 stack in two consecutive hands at the $100 table OOP last night). You have a little bit higher variance (but still much much lower comparing to like NLH those craps), but at the end if you play your cards well, you should win big.
So at higher limits, it's position that counts. At lower limits, it is how you play your cards that counts. Victory belongs to those who come out sweat and exploit the opportunities, make your adjustments based on the tables. Don't just freaking hide behind your position, that's NOT the only winning strategy. It's all about playing better than your opponents do.