planning on making my first deposit on pokerstars, bankroll question

[dakevs]

Hey everyone, I plan on making my first deposit into a pokerstars account for $50.00. What limits do you suggest I start at for Omaha? The lowest is $.01/.02. Do you think I can play comfortably at $.05/.10?

Thanks.

[chucky]

I would start off at .01/.02 because a general rule of thumb is 20 - 25 buyins.

[sqwisssssss]

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I would start off at .01/.02 because a general rule of thumb is 20 - 25 buyins.

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yeah, can you buy in for more and start higher? how are your skills? if new to the game, then start out at the bottom and nut peddle.

[cmyr]

if you're new to the game then you shouldn't expect to start out as a winning player, and I think playing as low as you can until you're comfortable is your best bet.

[wazz]

I'd just deposit more/play higher, unless you're the type to work really hard at something that in and of itself isn't that meaningful. You'll get a good understanding of how PLO plays, but not about how to play against semi-decent players/the regular aggro fish you encounter at higher stakes.

[OrrLives]

If you only deposit $50, definitely start at 0.01/0.02 and buy in a little short for ~60-80BB ($1.20-$1.60) until you get a feel for the game. This will limit your losses but still be large enough to make a lot of postflop decisions. I would also suggest starting at full ring and playing very tight until you are comfortable. Eventually, make the transition to 6max since most games online are 6max (and hence, most fish are at 6max).

When you feel comfortable with PLO and are somewhat decent at it (aren't losing), you should buy in for at least 100BB ($2), perhaps more. Remember that even a good player can have losing streaks that last for many thousands of hands. Move up limits when you have ~20 buyins for the next level (~$100 for 0.02/0.05), but be ready to move down if you lose a decent percentage of your bankroll.

Keep reading the posts in this forum in order to get an idea of what constitutes a good starting hand, what is a good flop for certain hands, what are the warning signs from villains (betting patterns), etc. Post some hands too and we will tell you what you did right or wrong.

[dakevs]

Personally, I agree with wazz. I'm the type of person that won't play my best if I don't feel that the stakes are high enough. Skill wise, I'm a decent player. Not a complete idiot. I think I'll go middle of the road and play at $.02/.05. Thanks for the help everyone, I'll try and become more active as a poster.

I made the switch over from NLHE, and I must say that I enjoy this much more as a cash game. However, I do prefer NLHE for tourneys and SNGs.

From what I've read so far on the forums, the strongest omaha hand is AAKK double suited, right?

[JSmith2007]

There is no strongest omaha hand until you see a flop.

[wazz]

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There is no strongest omaha hand until you see a flop.

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This isn't great thinking. Of course, you're right, you can raise preflop with AAKKds, whiff the flop, c-bet into someone who's flopped two pair with a raggedy 27AK no suits, but if you continually get more money into the pot preflop with good hands and play decent postflop poker you will do just fine.

[OrrLives]

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From what I've read so far on the forums, the strongest omaha hand is AAKK double suited, right?

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Yeah, AAJTds is also very strong. But you always need to remember the following:
(1) This is pot limit. If you can only get 4BB in preflop and have 96BB behind, you don't want to go beserko on the flop without a good reason (you hit a monster flop, you have a good read on someone that he is bluffing, etc).

(2) Preflop, AAKK are usually not a HUGE favorite over any reasonable calling hand preflop. So postflop play is very important.

Against a medium run-down hand like T976, you will win about 65% of the time if you get it allin preflop. There are many flops where AAKK will be behind T976.

cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
Ad Kd Ah Kh 321405 64.28 178595 35.72 0 0.00 0.643
Tc 7d 9h 6h 178595 35.72 321405 64.28 0 0.00 0.357


Even against a crappy hand like J822, you will win ~70-75% if you can get allin preflop.

cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
Ad Kd Ah Kh 360511 72.10 139489 27.90 0 0.00 0.721
Jc 2c 2d 8h 139489 27.90 360511 72.10 0 0.00 0.279