Starting Hand Guidelines (February 2nd)

Starting Hand Guidelines

Nothing new here, but this is something it seems like I need to review constantly before I play, while I play and after I play. My natural tendency is to play too many hands, especially at nice juicy tables. At the lower stakes that I play, I have no information that looser is better. It may not matter of course, but I seem to get into less trouble playing fewer hands.

Also, I'm a firm believer in a game theory/mixed strategy, whereby I could post my starting hand requirements and it wouldn't matter because I have an unexploitable mixed strategy. Plus, I've heard that PLO is a post-flop kind of game anyway.

For 6 handed tables:

UTG and UTG+1 - limp with top 20% hands (raise 20% of time)
LP and Button - limp with 20-30% hands (raise 20% of time), raise with Premium Hands (limp 25%)
SB - call limpers or one PSB with premium hands
BB - call one PSB with premium hands


I consider PLO Premium hands to have the requirement of all 4 cards working together.
Big pairs + suited connectors no lower than 9876.

Playable hands (20-30%)
Big pairs where the other two cards don't work together.
Suited connectors with one gap anywhere or two gaps not at the top, i.e. 9765 is OK as is 9864.
The weaker of these playable hands I wouldn't play in an aggressive preflop/tight postflop game and not upfront.


Other links to PLO starting hand guidelines

Twoplustwo forum discussion
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=8631426&an=0&page=2#Post8631426

More info
http://www.bet-the-pot.com/pot-limit-omaha-page35.html

Top 50 hands (not super duper useful):
http://pokerforums.fulltiltpoker.com/online-poker-play4484.html

Do you know how many possible starting hand ranks there are:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=8837331&an=&page=0&vc=1

Rolf's opinions. Go to 'Ace Speaks: Articles' and then 'What to look for in starting hands'
http://www.rolfslotboom.com/