What are your thoughts about PLO8?

nabmom · Jul 16, 2026

Omaha is considered to be a harder game to master than Texas Hold'em, mainly because of the two extra hole cards everyone gets. Then PLO8 (Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo) takes that premise and offers a possibility of splitting a pot with an opponent. Do you think PLO8 is more skill-based than regular Omaha? Is it a game you play? One you are interested in learning? Why or why not? Is it a harder game to master?

Sunz of Beaches · Jul 16, 2026

I really kind of like it although im playing it rather rarely and i am probably a losing player in that format. It requires quite some thinking in my opinion and is a bit less of a rollercoaster than the usual pot limit Omaha game where only one person can win the pot.

Oxinthewater · Jul 16, 2026

I played this in the community platinum freeroll a couple of weeks back for the first time ,and really enjoyed it.

I think there is more complexity to it, not just in playing two hands in one, but in how a given hand lends to scooping vs getting quartered (typically on the low hand) and at decent stack depths I think it would be more skillful.

If the low stack depths though, it is likely to be even more of a luckfest than a turbo hold'em game, with equities running very close, so a lot will depend on the setup and what situation you find yourself in as the field collapses.

ExMoroccan · Jul 16, 2026

omaha is an interesting thing cause its diffrent play and ranges you can expect everything really from anyone and royal flush and flushes be expected almost 50% of the time, i personally dont play it much . but when i do . i have so much fun

pirateglenn · Jul 16, 2026

I love PL hi/lo 8 because it presents so many opportunities to win - either pot or shared pot based on the hi/lo factor, it definitely for me is more skill based and forces to me focus on the varying combinations of potential winning hands on the board, its fun and quite addictive when you play it more regularly, i was playing FR variants more earlier this year before my job took priority but i definitely will play it again soon.

nitesss · Jul 16, 2026

I haven't played PLO8 a lot, but every time I try it, I realize how different it is from Hold'em. You really need patience and careful decisions. That's what makes it fun for me.

RhinoRyan89 · Jul 16, 2026

I'm really fond of PL08 Sadly not many sites have it as an option and there isn't alot of traffic playing the game also.

Nameless14 · Jul 16, 2026

I definitely think PLO8 has an even steeper learning curve than regular PLO. You're not just chasing the high hand-you also have to think about scooping the whole pot versus getting quartered, which adds a lot more strategy. I don't play much PLO8 yet, but it's a format I'd like to learn because it seems really rewarding if you understand the fundamentals. It definitely feels like one of the tougher poker variants to master.♠️

Tero · Jul 16, 2026

I am unskilled to answer this question since I've only dipped my toes in PLO. But overall, when people start making variants of something (what ever it may be) it usually gets worse. Currently I'm not interested in going deeper into PLO/variant world. I have more interesting things to tackle in the real world.

MK_ · Jul 16, 2026

I love Pl08, that's my fave game, cash, tourney, doesn't matter to me,

... all about scooping and quartering more so than just splitting,

you can build some very nice pots in cash games😎👍

lwccasz · Jul 16, 2026

I'm fascinated by PLO8. The dynamic of fighting for the whole pot while trying to avoid the trap of being “squared” requires absurd mental discipline, far beyond traditional Omaha.

ebazynski · Jul 16, 2026

As someone who plays for the fun of it, I greatly enjoy PLO8 as opposed to Hold'em. I think it's a bit easier than straight Omaha in that you have multiple ways to win a hand. Since my only venue for playing is through CC games on Replay, I would love to see more opportunities to play.

It would be cool if once in awhile the Silver Monthly on Replay could offer it instead of always going with Hold'em, since variants are a big part of the Friday Silver games.

Kerasuss28 · Jul 16, 2026

nabmom said:
Omaha is considered to be a harder game to master than Texas Hold'em, mainly because of the two extra hole cards everyone gets. Then PLO8 (Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo) takes that premise and offers a possibility of splitting a pot with an opponent. Do you think PLO8 is more skill-based than regular Omaha? Is it a game you play? One you are interested in learning? Why or why not? Is it a harder game to master?

i like all omaha types only not the omaha hi/low i dont like.

nabmom · Jul 16, 2026

ebazynski said:
As someone who plays for the fun of it, I greatly enjoy PLO8 as opposed to Hold'em. I think it's a bit easier than straight Omaha in that you have multiple ways to win a hand. Since my only venue for playing is through CC games on Replay, I would love to see more opportunities to play.

It would be cool if once in awhile the Silver Monthly on Replay could offer it instead of always going with Hold'em, since variants are a big part of the Friday Silver games.

I'll pass along the suggestion for you, unless you've already asked somewhere already.

gustavofuentes2 · Jul 16, 2026

I really enjoy PLO8 its allot more entertaining the normal hold'em. I think there is allot more strategy involved and its just allot of fun, I recommend PLO8 to everyone just to have a great time.

Gritz18 · Jul 16, 2026

nabmom said:
Do you think PLO8 is more skill-based than regular Omaha?

Yes, I believe that each poker variant requires a suitable strategy from every player.

nabmom said:
Is it a game you play?

No, I only play Hold'em.

nabmom said:
One you are interested in learning?

I have no interest in learning any variant for the time being.

nabmom said:
Why or why not?

I play poker just to pass the time; for now, my focus is Hold'em.

nabmom said:
Is it a harder game to master?

Yes, as I mentioned above, it requires a different strategy; so if I were to play this format, I would definitely look for articles or videos just to know what to do at the table.

Gutshot Gus · Jul 16, 2026

Omaha H/L is my game of choice.
I would walk across a whole room full of Texas Hold'em tables to get to that Omaha H/L table in the corner.
Omaha H/L is a bit harder than Hold'em but it suits my style better.
I can make more money playing Omaha H/L and I like the game better, so there you have it.
H/L is a lot harder to play than standard, you have more ways to hit and way more outs to calculate.
You have to really be aware of the nut hand more, both high and low.
If you aren't careful, you will get "Quartered". Win the low or high and opponent wins 3/4 of the pot, by winning one side and tying you on your side.
You will actually "win" and come out losing money on the hand.
On the flip side you can win both the High and Low and Scoop, what a great feeling.
I really like the 5 card version better.

bronwen777 · Jul 16, 2026

nabmom said:
Omaha is considered to be a harder game to master than Texas Hold'em, mainly because of the two extra hole cards everyone gets. Then PLO8 (Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo) takes that premise and offers a possibility of splitting a pot with an opponent. Do you think PLO8 is more skill-based than regular Omaha? Is it a game you play? One you are interested in learning? Why or why not? Is it a harder game to master?

yikes. Ive been at the tables once or twice. I do like plo4.. I usually find myself in gambling situations there a lot. cause 1 last card can ruin you. I feel more lucky and push limits on plo.. so on plo8, might as well wreck myself further. push the pot to the max and go all in and see what happens. 🤣😂🤣 <--- worst ever advice.

I find it hard to let go when I thought i had the nuts and it changed after you already comitted. I feel like people bluff a lot more, pretending to have a hand you know you dont have. while maybe you have the best hand. the variables are constantly changing. although I can instantly rank my hand, I find it somewhat difficult to say no to any starting hand so my vpip is very high.

pundim · Jul 16, 2026

I'm too fish to answer that question

, but I do feel that PLO in general involves a lot more skills. Whenever I think I have the nuts, I loose (and most of the times I don't even understand why 🤣

Mwaki · Jul 16, 2026

All PLO variants are like Bingo,it Hits out of nowhere and from everywhere 😂

belizebum · Jul 16, 2026

I like it better than just Omaha. More chances to at least hit the low. But it can be very bingo(ish). A lot of fish in the sea.

najisami · Jul 16, 2026

I think it's a great game. But that's probably because I like harder challenges.
Yes I play it and I'm always looking to learn more about it.
In fact, once you grow to like PLO, for the more thinking it involves, PLO8 brings in even more of a "Mind teaser" riddles. So many things you need to figure once you're in a pot.
And yes, I would say it's a harder game to master, at least way harder than NLH.

Emily Trott · Jul 16, 2026

I've been playing quite a bit of it online since early fall last year. I was doing it in preparation for playing a tourney at South Point during my late March trip to Vegas. It is a lot of fun and I'll be doing it again.

TheniT · Jul 16, 2026

PLO8 is a highly strategic game where patience and strong starting-hand selection are key. The best hands can win both the high and low, allowing players to scoop the entire pot. Avoid chasing weak lows or getting quartered, and focus on making nut hands. Because many players make fundamental mistakes, PLO8 offers good opportunities for skilled players.

austral · Jul 17, 2026

Many Omaha specialists believe that PLO8 (Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Eight or Better) has a strategic ceiling at least as high as traditional PLO, and some even consider it more difficult to master. The reason isn't that it has more action, but rather that it adds an extra layer of decision-making because it is a split-pot game.

What are your thoughts about PLO8?

nabmom

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