Tournament How to Handle Tough Opponents in PLO Tournaments Owen Gaines Owen Gaines is a professional poker player and author who has played an estimated ten million hands and written four poker strategy books. August 28, 2025 Handling strong competition in PLO means minimizing mistakes, using position wisely and choosing battles carefullyPot-Limit Omaha (PLO) tournaments can be some of the most challenging events in poker, largely because the game produces so many strong hands and draws. Unlike No-Limit Hold’em, where top pair can sometimes carry you through a hand, PLO regularly puts players in spots where multiple players hold powerful combinations. Facing tough opponents in this environment requires discipline, adaptability, and careful observation. The first step is respecting their range. Strong PLO players often play a wide variety of starting hands, but they know how to balance speculative holdings with premium ones. Against them, it’s important not to overvalue weak two-pair hands or bare draws.When you’re up against seasoned competition, you’ll want to narrow your calling ranges and focus on hands with nut potential — suited aces, double-suited connected cards, and combinations that can hit the strongest straights and flushes.Position becomes even more critical against top-tier players. Giving a skilled opponent the advantage of acting after you can turn marginal spots into expensive mistakes. Whenever possible, avoid bloating pots out of position. Instead, use position to control the pace, apply pressure when you sense weakness, and slow down when the board texture favors your opponent’s range.Another key tactic is paying attention to betting patterns. Elite PLO players are capable of balanced aggression, mixing strong hands with semi-bluffs. Rather than guessing, watch how they size their bets on coordinated boards versus dry ones. Noticing subtle differences can help you distinguish between strength and pressure plays.Patience is also essential. Tough opponents thrive when others grow frustrated and try to outplay them in marginal spots. By staying disciplined, you can wait for situations where the odds and board texture favor you, then capitalize on their aggression with a well-timed call or raise.