The Best Online Tournament Players - Part II - Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
Jeff Henry
February 24th 2006
Naming the best Omaha Hi-Lo Fixed online multi-table tournament player is a bit tricky. I used to play this game more often about a year ago on PokerStars at the $40, $50 and $200 buy in levels. I really liked the game, and it seemed like I was making the money in about half of the tournaments I played. Recently, I have played only the $200 buy in tournaments there and the occasional smaller buy in, and little else in fixed limit, as I have discovered that I have better success in Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo. So keep this in mind as you hear the following.
Gank is a monster at this game obviously, and having that bracelet makes him special period. I’d back him anytime and have swapped percentages with him greedily at the WSOP in the past. But in terms of consistent big finishes at Omaha Hi/Lo Limit, based on what I’ve seen in the last year and a half or so, the same names keep rising to the top. Allinnoouts has a proven track record of success, as does Karl Marx. Both have had great finishes, and many of them, for a long time.
A notch above them is PokerKing, just based on the sheer numbers and size of wins. The problem with picking PokerKing is I find his style of play incorrect and reckless. Clearly, he has put up some big wins, and I respect that. Analyzing the numbers alone might not always yield the perfect answer. A few big wins based on lucky stretches could make a person’s numbers look better than they should, say for example with two huge $8,000 wins and not the consistency. Maybe some very lucky stretches make his numbers over inflated, or maybe I am missing something about how good he really is. But this is my opinion. I am impressed with the solid play of duggins_edge, and like his style, patient and intelligent, but his win totals are not as impressive as my selection for the best – The Omaholic. He limps when he should limp, he pushes when he should push, and he understands the concepts behind the game. I can’t say the same for PokerKing.
Too many times I’ve seen PokerKing push hard not paying any attention to the fact that he was obviously quartering himself, 4 betting with no high hand and a low he was splitting with another player. The Omaholic rarely makes those obvious mistakes. So read the numbers however you like, but the “best” doesn’t make those kinds of mistakes regularly, no matter what any numbers say.
All of these guys are great Omaha players to be sure, and as someone who enjoys the game, if I was as good as any of these guys I’d be thrilled.
But my choice is the The Omaholic.
