A Tale of Two Pocket Pairs

In Omaha, Aces are just another pocket pair. It’s the best pair, yet without something to back them up, a draw, they kinda suck. Therefore, I try to play them very carefully, although not always. It is when the latter occurs, trouble comes a-knockin’.

I hadn’t been at the table but a couple hands. I knew a few of the players, some tight ABC players, an aggressive guy who only comes in preflop with six-guns a-blazin, and a lucktard LAG who will call down to the river with any 2-outer. The aggro is the one who leads out, the tard calls:


PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG ($12.55)
UTG+1 ($30.05)
MP1 ($34.75)
MP2 ($10)
MP3 ($3.05)
CO ($26.55)
Hero (Button) ($23.40)
SB ($15.55)
BB ($15.20)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, Q, A, 8

1 fold, UTG+1 bets $0.85, MP1 calls $0.85, 1 fold, MP3 raises to $3.05 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero calls $3.05, 1 fold, BB calls $2.80, UTG+1 raises to $16.20, 1 fold, Hero calls $13.15, BB calls $12.15 (All-In)

I'm rather encouraged by MP3's all-in. I want to get money into this pot but I'd also like to see a flop at a price where I am not pot committed. UTG+1 isn't going to let that happen. I really don't have much of a choice but to call. I was a bit surprised to see the BB go all-in, and now I knew I had to dodge a lot of bullets.

Flop: ($51.60) 9, 3, 10 (4 players, 2 all-in)

UTG+1 bets $13.85 (All-In), Hero calls $7.20 (All-In)

I'm pot committed. No spades, but a gutshot. Whoopee!

Turn: ($66) 9 (4 players, 4 all-in)

River: ($66) 7 (4 players, 4 all-in)

Neither the turn or river are making me feel any better. A mid-sized wrap with spades has me screwed, if someone were to come into such a big pot with such a hand.

Total pot: $66 | Rake: $3

Results:

Hero had A, Q, A, 8 (two pair, Aces and nines).

BB mucked 6, Q, 10, 5 (two pair, tens and nines).

UTG+1 had K, K, Q, J (two pair, Kings and nines).

MP3 mucked K, 3, 6, K (two pair, Kings and nines).

Outcome: Hero won $63


I was playing simultaneously on a $10 table and had position on a LAG who had been hitting more than his fair share of hands. I remained patient and played only premium hands, to no avail. Finally, I had a hand I could work with:

PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP1 ($47.50)
Hero (MP2) ($12.60)
MP3 ($6)
CO ($8.55)
Button ($5.40)
SB ($8.80)
BB ($6.45)
UTG ($2.40)
UTG+1 ($9.45)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 4, A, J, A

2 folds, MP1 calls $0.10, Hero bets $0.55, 5 folds, MP1 calls $0.45

I'll take it heads up...

Flop: ($1.35) 9, 9, 3 (2 players)

MP1 checks, Hero bets $1.30, MP1 calls $1.30

A rather safe flop with the potential of a nut flush.

Turn: ($3.95) 8 (2 players)

MP1 checks, Hero bets $3.80, MP1 raises to $15.20, Hero calls $6.95 (All-In)

I suppose I could have folded at this point; instead, I was banking on this guy doing what he had done hand-after-hand all night, which was show aggression and avoid the showdown. He had done it so many times...

River: ($25.45) J (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $25.45 | Rake: $1.25

Results:

MP1 had 5, 8, 8, 4 (full house, eights over nines).

Hero mucked 4, A, J, A (flush, Ace high).

Outcome: MP1 won $24.20

At least it was a dime table.