Do the Right Thing

YTD: +$34795.25

I’ve been back in the PLO game again and it’s made me realize that one of my problems is lack of thinking. And I must say that I think that this is fairly endemic on the net. I don’t mean not thinking in the blindly stupid way, although I do that too. But simply making too many routine actions. This is even more critical in PLO where many situations are NOT routine, and a little thought would greatly maximize the earn on the hand. Here are some examples. One in which I lost, but I liked the play…the other in which I won but thought the play sucked.

PokerStars - Omaha Pot Limit ($5.00/$10.00)

Seat 1: CHUFTY ($1380.05 in chips) (sb)
Seat 2: allaw ($400.00 in chips) (bb)
Seat 3: Rinehart ($1652.25 in chips)
Seat 4: F.U.N. ($175.50 in chips)
Seat 5: wedel ($654.00 in chips)
Seat 6: Tommie ($967.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Hero ($2301.40 in chips)
Seat 8: fabsoul ($705.00 in chips)
Seat 9: BTDT ($1157.00 in chips) (button)
CHUFTY : Post Small Blind ($5.00)
allaw : Post Big Blind ($10.00)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [ 7c 9c Th Jc ]
Rinehart : folds
F.U.N. : folds
wedel : calls $10.00
Tommie : folds
Hero : raises $30.00

(Yes I’m playing loose here but I was trying too build a more aggressive style)

fabsoul : folds
BTDT : calls $30.00 (button)
CHUFTY : folds (sb)
allaw : folds (bb)
wedel : raises $125.00

(It’s a limp reraise, so almost certainly pocket AA, unless he is especially tricky or loose, which he hasn’t shown himself to be so far. My hand is value against an AA)

Hero : calls $105.00
BTDT : folds (button)
*** FLOP *** [Kd Jd 4c]
wedel : bets $312.00

(A gambling play in PLO when you think someone has AA is to raise them if you have hit the flop in any way whatsoever. I considered it, but rejected it as HE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PASS. If I hit my hand I still get paid, and if the board pairs I will be glad I didn’t put him all in.)

Hero : calls $312.00
*** TURN *** [Kd Jd 4c] [Kh]
wedel : bets $207.00 and is all-in

(Uggh, the board pairs. I’m getting just less than 6 to 1 on the call. If you run through all the permutations here, even including a chance that you are in front, it becomes a clear pass, especially as your being in front % decreases based on the foe.)

Hero : Fold
wedel : collected $936.00 from pot
On the other hand…here’s one I won, BUT didn’t like!

PokerStars Omaha Pot Limit ($5.00/$10.00)

Seat 2: BTDT ($563.00 in chips) (bb)
Seat 3: Camille ($701.00 in chips)
Seat 4: Hero ($1654.25 in chips)
Seat 5: wedel ($2749.25 in chips)
Seat 6: gilgamor ($1056.00 in chips) (button)
Seat 9: Smart Ace ($866.90 in chips) (sb)
Smart Ace : Post Small Blind ($5.00)
BTDT : Post Big Blind ($10.00)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [ 2d 5c Qc Kd ]

(I’m very loose here, but the game was strangely passive)

Camille : calls $10.00
Hero : calls $10.00
wedel : folds
gilgamor : folds (button)
Smart Ace : calls $5.00 (sb)
BTDT : checks (bb)

(woohoo I won the button)

*** FLOP *** [6c Qs 9c]
Smart Ace : bets $38.00 (sb)
BTDT : Fold (bb)
Camille : Fold

(This is a thin call, but we’re playing implied odds here. I felt this foe was particularly unlikely to be betting out with a draw.)

Hero : calls $38.00
*** TURN *** [6c Qs 9c] [Kh]
Smart Ace : checks (sb)

(Nice card, and foe slows right down...a chance to bluff with outs, or even maybe be in front)

Hero : bets $90.00
Smart Ace : calls $90.00 (sb)
*** RIVER *** [6c Qs 9c Kh] [Ks]
Smart Ace : checks (sb)

(I’ve got a lock. The question is how much to bet. I almost always underbet the pot in every situation so this would look natural. However, and this is a big however, what kind of hand could he call ANY bet with here. The str8 is unlikely and if he missed the flush he’s gone. A small bet may provoke a bluff reraise but this is v v v unlikely. So the situation is, he is either going to pass no matter what I bet, or he will call any bet, because he had trips on the flop and now has an underfull, but probably hopes I have a str8. Betting the pot is clear here.)

Hero : bets $170.00

(arrrrghhhh)

Smart Ace : calls $170.00 (sb)

(he does have an underfull :-( )

One of the first things you learn as a successful cash player is that it is decisions, not pots that count. As an old poker friend used to say, “putting your money in well”. Its important not to let the high speed and frankly dumb play on the net let this early lesson fade.