The Best Online Tournament Players - Part II - Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo
Jeff Henry
February 10th 2006
Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo is a fun game. If you have never tried it, you’re missing out on some good action. I have written about it before and it still applies. People like the action in Omaha, that they have four cards and the fact that they always have a chance with split pots. This game attracts action seekers, and they often do not play well. It is a good opportunity to make money, and I play the game often, though mostly on PartyPoker where they have $100 buy in multi-table tournaments. The biggest buy in on PokerStars is $50.
There are a few players, including myself, who find their way to many final tables of the $100 buy in tournament on PartyPoker regularly. These players include StuSutcliffe, PeakOilisNow, CABINONE, and GOIN_POSTAL. Almost every night, you find these folks at the final table, often among the top 3. As far as I can tell, these players don’t play on PokerStars, or if so, very little. If you ever want to watch and learn the game, any of these players would be a fine one to observe. But, for the purpose of our discussion, I turn to PokerStars where there are more tournaments from which to form my opinion.
The choice for the best Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo player is easy. There are many very good players with high returns on their money over a fair period of time on PokerStars. These include Checkbook, real-nic, taz9, fit582, and Jareem Weaver. Two players who seem to come in a notch above these guys are playfast and uncforte. They have a better record over a longer period.
The best, though, may sound familiar. I would be shocked if there were two Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo multi-table tournaments in a row and The Omaholic wasn’t at the final table of one or both of them. He plays more of these tournaments than anyone and no one has better results - by a long shot.
He is ever conscious of the keys to Omaha Hi-Lo. The way to win at Omaha Hi-Lo, after all, is to scoop pots, or get three quarters of them, not to split them. The Omaholic will not be the guy getting quartered, he is always the one with the free roll, i.e. he has half the pot locked up and has a draw to a hand that can scoop the other end of the pot also. Few people know how to play the game well, and fewer can maintain the discipline to have great success over time. No one does what The Omaholic does.
As good a player as he is, he is equally as friendly and freely discusses the game as he plays. Stopping by his table is a must for anyone looking to pick up the game. Tell him The Shrike sent you and said he was the best – then sit back and take in whatever you read.
