O8/PLO8/NLO8: Beating The Rake

I've been tutoring a friend in O8 play, we're planning on taking a few casino trips. We were discussing the amount of bankroll to take along, and he was surprised it was comparably less than a hold 'em roll.

As I explained the basic differences in O8 (more players per flop, two pots per hand), I realized that one of the major factors in determining the required roll is the reduced rake.

The casino charges the same rake per hand of "flop" poker, regardless of the type of game. But in O8, you have more players seeing the flop and going to the river. While this doesn't actually reduce the amount of rake the casino scoops off the table, it reduces the average rake each player pays in the game.

Stakes make a difference too. At Turning Stone, a $1-3 LHE game rakes $3 on a $10 pot. HEL-LO! McFLY! 30% rake plus toke? No thank you. At a tight table, no one is winning there.

By comparison, a 3/6 O8 game runs with a maximum $5 rake, the same size toke and many players in the hand. You actually have a chance to make some money because you're not fighting the rake on each hand.

I've noticed while playing online that the rake has changed at some sites, especially at the micro stakes. FTP, AP and UB charge double their normal rake on the smallest stakes (usually below .25/.50). It appears only Stars keeps the rake lower on those tables.

The two lessons to be learned here are:

1) If you are playing online to learn a new game, it might be cheaper to learn at .25/.50 or higher than play at the lower stakes (because of the rake).

2) If you are playing O8 at micro stakes, you have a much better chance of beating the rake playing PLO8 or NLO8. While these games have higher variance than LO8, it may only take you one good scoop to turn a profit.