LEARN THE BEST BIG O POKER STRATEGY

WHAT IS THE BIG O VARIANT IN POKER?

The Big O is a variation of poker, or rather more specifically, it imitates five card Omaha games. In normal pot limit Omaha games, players will just have four cards to use.

But with the Big O, you are essentially playing a split pot game. Half the pot will go to the best high hand while the other half the pot will go to the best low hand.

Split pot games, like Big O, always create more intrigue and excitement, but these are the types of poker games more experienced players thrive on, especially if they are holding a nut flush.

In the following sections, we will delve more into Big O which can be called five card Omaha to make things a bit easier.

BIG O POKER – THE MOST KNOWN POT LIMIT OMAHA VARIETY

Big O is one of the more well known versions of pot limit Omaha games, as it can be played in limit and high limit forms. Although you do get four card Omaha games, the hi lo split game for Big O makes it an appealing prospect for beginner and more seasoned players.

And to illustrate the rise in its popularity, the Big O was given a grand unveiling as a World Series of Poker tournament in 2023 with a $1,500 buy-in. This drew in 1,458 entries, and the turnout exceeded expectations. Scott Abrahams was crowned the inaugural champion, and he walked away with a cheque for $315,203.

If anything, a Big O tourney was long overdue, but perhaps it showed it can vie for the affections of players in the same manner that Texas Hold’Em has for many years.

WHERE DID THE NAME “BIG O” COME FROM?

Big O is a rather novel version of poker. A quick check of the poker history books will show that the Big O game only dates back to 2008.

Southern California has been credited with bringing Big O into the public consciousness, and over the course of that year, the game spread to more card rooms across the US.

And as mentioned previously, Big O was given its grand introduction as a World Series of Poker event in 2023.

MOST IMPORTANT BIG O POKER RULES

It’s now time to draw your attention to some of the most important Big O rules, especially if you have set your sights on making a very strong hand, such as a flush draw or nut flush draws.

Betting rounds

There are four betting rounds in Big O, and after the fourth board card has been revealed, and one after the final board card has been exposed. For pot limit structure, the bet size doubles on the last two betting rounds.

8 or Better rule

In Big O, this means only cards that are 8 or lower count towards the low element of the game. You will need at least three such low cards on the board to make this possible.

Allocation of the pot

For a Big O game, half of the pot will be awarded to the best Hi hand, while the other half of the pot will go to the player with the best Lo hand.

In the following section, we will divulge some basic strategy for Big O, so you feel more confident when you play, and ultimately improve your chances of claiming a win with a decent five card hand.

BASIC BIG O POKER STRATEGY

So, if you are after some inspiration for a simple Big O strategy to adopt, we have divided this into clear sub sections from the pre-flop right through to the river, so check this out below.

BIG O POKER PREFLOP STRATEGY

To get started, you will need an amazing starting hand, and in this case, a nut low or nut straight will more than suffice.

You will want a hand that helps you win both ways. And that means making big nut draws with board cards. So, excellent starting hands, such as an ace-high will be ideal.

Beginners, meanwhile, should look out for an A-2 and other low hand cards in the small blind when they play the game if they are going to give themselves a chance to win.

BIG O POKER STRATEGY ON THE FLOP

This marks a significant moment in any Big O poker game. A nut low draw here can be quite expensive, and if you flop out an eight-out straight draw, then you probably rethink this as a serious draw.

Also drawing to semi-strong hands can be troublesome, so think carefully when you play before the later streets, especially as your opponents could have five cards that are robust enough to help them win.

BIG O POKER STRATEGY ON THE TURN

Come the later streets, you shouldn’t necessarily be focussed on the bigger draw, and adhering to the hi lo element of the game. The turn should therefore be viewed as a c-bet.

Give up on straight and flush draws with board cards, as your opponent could well have a full house, and they will probably trump what you have. So, if you have nut flushes or a big pair, then keep on betting.

BIG O POKER STRATEGY ON THE RIVER

So, you have reached the river, and all being well you won’t have lost too much money or the entire pot at this point!

It’s best to make value bets with the hole cards you have. After all, if you can play your hole cards well at this point, or even have five hole cards, then things could turn in your favour.

Being in the second nut flush is far from ideal, so make sure you have jostled well for position in the middle cards, so you can strike when your opponent makes a raise with a double suited combination.

HOW TO PLAY BIG O POKER

It’s now time to show you how to play Big O poker. Of course, having decent starting hands will go a long way to helping you win.

The play of a hand is very similar to pot limit Omaha hi or limit Omaha hi lo. Usually, you will need a maximum of nine players which resembles pot limit Omaha hi lo games.

But when playing with 9 players, the deck may need more cards to enable the dealer to burn an additional card before you play at the river.

As mentioned before, there are four betting rounds (pre-flop, flop, turn, and river) when you tackle Big O poker, and at the showdown, players should reveal two hole cards. It has to be exactly two hole cards, no more or no fewer.

WHAT TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PLAYING BIG O POKER?

Like any other form of poker, such as Texas Hold’Em or card pot limit omaha, position is critical for Big O. You really need to think about your position and playing within range well for all four betting rounds.

So, when possible you want to play as close to the big blind button as you can, and make sure you have good starting hands.

By being in position, you can extract more information about your opponent. With five hole cards, you could bluff more or make strategic adjustments where necessary to take control of the pot.

TIE AND ITS VALUE AT BIG O POKER

If multiple players tie in an omaha hi lo 8 or a 5-card pot limit omaha hi game, the high or low half of the pot will be split further between the winner.

Essentially, the tie has some value, as it means that some community cards can tilt the direction of a hi lo game in more than one way, and with the money evenly split from the pot, it gives players a greater chance to win with potential two card combinations or a high two pair.

BEST TIPS FOR BIG O POKER FROM ENERGYCASINO

If you want to play Big O Poker, here are a couple of tips to bear in mind, so you get the most from the game.

Fold weak draws

If you have a low draw in a hi lo game, such as an A2 Lo draw, then these can cause you problems if not handled correctly. There can be an advantage to making a small bet with a low draw, however, unless you have a nut flush, fold when you can.

Slow Play Your Best Hands

While slow playing isn’t always ideal for limit omaha hi lo games, if you have a decent hand, such as a two pair or other excellent potential two card combinations, then by slow things down, you can play in position better compared to other omaha hi lo 8 opponents.

CONCLUSION

So let’s now share some final thoughts with you. Big O resembles most 5 card pot limit omaha games, and it can be extremely entertaining. However, it’s very much a game of discipline as it is about being aggressive and trying to seize control of the pot. If you can take on board the tips we have outlined in this article, this will stand you in good stead.