"You can play in a way that suits your strengths" - interview with Skodljivec
We sat down with Omaha coach Skodljivec to discuss adapting to the four-card game as well as his future video series.
"Having fun was the main reason I started playing"
| School of PLO |
| Check out the crash course in Omaha below.
All videos are Lesson #1: Preflop ABC |
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PokerStrategy.com: Hi Skodljivec, thanks for talking to us. You've already treated us to the School of PLO series - any future videos planned?
Skodljivec: Hey Matt, no problem. The next series is titled Trouble Spot Analysis. Basically, the idea is that I approach a subject that the avarge PLO player is interested in, starting with a theoretical introduction, and finishing with some hand history examples.
I'll definately look to create other series in the future, depending on the demand of PokerStrategy.com's PLO enthusiasts.
PokerStrategy.com: For those who don't know you, what's your poker background? Have you always been a PLO player? Skodljivec: Like almost every poker player I know, my first game was No-Limit Hold'em. I was quite successful, going from a $1 buy-in home game fish to a NL100 regular in a year, but the game simply wasn't that fun to me anymore.
Having fun was the main reason I started playing poker. There were always rumours floating about a crazy game in which some of the biggest pots in online history were played, but I never really thought about it until a friend started playing it. I decided to give it a try, and never looked back.
"In Omaha, you can play in a way that suits your strengths"
PokerStrategy.com: What are the advantages/disadvantages of PLO vs NLHE? Skodljivec: Well, I would say the biggest advantage is that Omaha is far less "solved" than Hold'em. You can have winning PLO players who play with stats as diverse as 31/10 or 18/16.
The game is more about postflop play than preflop, therefore you can play the way that suits your strengths the most. Also the game is more complex, due the increased number of hand combinations available.
It's definitely a completely different game. This can be an advantage or disadvantage of course: if you are not willing to do the work, it's impossible to become a winning player. You don't have preflop charts that allow you to play very solid preflop; you have to learn these things by yourself. If you are willing to put in a lot of work, you can probably crush Omaha much more than No-Limit.
PokerStrategy.com: Do you think PLO is the game of the future or will NLHE always be more popular? Skodljivec: I think Hold'em will always be the number one game in online poker. It's very easy to learn, and very hard to master, so it's attractive for the entire poker demographic.
I do believe that the ratio of Omaha to Hold'em players will change, though. Omaha will become more popular, as it seems to me that everyone who has tried the game has stayed there - unless they lost their bankroll, which is very possible in a game where 20 buy-in swings are totally normal.
"Don't underestimate the game... you will get destroyed"
PokerStrategy.com: I'm a No-Limit player sat at an Omaha table. Give me your top three tips to protect my bankroll! Skodljivec: Play tight out of position. Everyone knows position is important, but Hold'em players have no idea how much that applies in PLO. Because starting hand strengths are so close, position is usually all you've got.
Do not underestimate the game - i.e. if you're a $1/$2 No Limit regular, don't sit at a PLO200 table. You are going to get destroyed.
Finally, remember that 4 cards mean more combinations - don't go broke without a strong hand. Stacking off with weak trips is often like bet/calling ace high in Hold'em.
PokerStrategy.com: Who do you think is currently the best Omaha player in the world? Skodljivec: It's tough to say. I think the two best poker players in general are Phil Galfond and Isildur1 - they both play a lot of Omaha, so that will be my answer.
PokerStrategy.com: Finally, since it's a more subjective question than in Hold'em, what's your favourite Omaha hand? Skodljivec: Well you have to love those double-suited, connected aces - it wouldn't be the end of the world for me to look down at JT98 double-suited either.
PokerStrategy.com: Thanks for your time, and good luck with the swings!
This interview was conducted by mjperry | Follow MJPerry on Twitter
