NLHE vs PLO. Where does luck play a bigger part?

Well, as the title says already ,
When comparing a NLHE game vs a PLO game, where does luck play a bigger factor? Let's take for example for 6max cashgames. Is there a difference? if so, in what way?

PLO is definitely a higher variance game. You are almost never crushing or are crushed in preflop equity barring AAXX versus lower PPXX.
Even post flop, you often have at least decent equity, that is why people usually bet pot because smaller bets are often giving very good odds for someone to call. You should almost never be slowplaying anything because of how much people are willing to call and how easy it is for them to get there if you give them a free card. Coolers and flips happen way way more often in PLO than NLHE, thus the higher variance.

NLHE, equities are more lopsided and coolers and flips still do happen but nowhere near as often as PLO.

In short, PLO is much higher variance and it can be very brutal when you keep getting coolered or losing flips. If you have a NLHE background, you may also tend to overvalue a lot of marginal/weak hands in PLO and end up losing alot because of that.

To answer your question luck plays a bigger part in PLO as it is much more forgiving, but that is one of the things that make it more profitable. In PLO, you will see people play much much looser and make bad decisions because they get lucky a few times and think they are doing the right thing.

Both games are profitable at the lowest levels, but NLHE is much easier to pick up for someone who is just starting.You might also not be able to handle the big big swings that is part and parcel of playing PLO if you are new. If you are the type who gets discouraged after a couple coolers in a session, you should stay away from PLO until you can handle variance better.

tohos said:

PLO is definitely a higher variance game. You are almost never crushing or are crushed in preflop equity barring AAXX versus lower PPXX.
Even post flop, you often have at least decent equity,

Click to expand...

This. Very rarely in PLO where you will absolutely crush a flop, since most combinations will offer equity to your opponents. It's entirely possible to go from having the best hand on the flop, going behind on the turn to outdrawing on the river.

Yes, and PLO takes more thought, figuring equity is more complicated w 4 cards... usually with good E you just pot it and pray... minbets and small ball play is a HE thing...

PLO does has more luck than NLHE. Many times many are outdrawn on the turn/river at PLO. Your 4card hand combined with the community cards can easily make a hand. Thats why so many many callers at PLO.

Not that i have more luck, what happens is that there are more possibilities to connect, therefore one should know that letters enter, as it is more a game of variance where we must protect our chips and play more hands much stronger, we play in texas holdem.

Enviado desde mi C2104 mediante Tapatalk

I always heard the swings were much bigger in PLO.

PLO definitely the higher variance game. Avoid it if you have tilt problems

Any 4 cards can and will win, OH8 is definitely a game that is decided on the turn (or the river) and usually involves lots of action. Because of 4 hole cards, as opposed to 2 in HE, the hand possibilities exponentially increase. OH8 also relies less on bluffing and on position and for that reason it has always been my favorite game