Dipping a toe and booking a win

When my back went out earlier this month, I thought it best that I stay away from Poker Stars until I was feeling better. Actually, I didn’t need much convincing because of a bad run that I couldn’t seem to kick, dropping buy-ins like I hadn’t had to work hard to get the roll up in the first place. Friends suggested I try Omaha Hi/Lo to get away from the variance, yet I wanted to read Hwang before I stepped up onto a new learning curve. Hwang’s PLO/Hi/Lo book is in a bin next to the loo. I do my best reading there, but I just couldn’t bring myself to open it. I just didn’t want to play, or rather, I was tired of risk, and I saw no need to read.

I didn’t quite quit playing poker altogether, because all the while I knew that this phase would pass, and instead spent my time at Poker Academy, chatting with friends and keeping my rankings up. I did okay and both of my primary nicks are sitting at all-time high rolls.

I guess all I needed was a little morale boost, for when DW suggested I take it easy last night and play some poker, instead of firing up PA, I went to PS for the first time in over three weeks. And guess what, Aces improved.


PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.10 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($15)
UTG ($6)
UTG+1 ($12.40)
Hero (MP1) ($14.50)
MP2 ($10)
CO ($8.30)
Button ($2.95)
SB ($4.15)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with A, 3, 6, A

1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, 1 fold, CO calls $0.10, Button bets $0.65, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.55, CO calls $0.55

Flop: ($2.20) 3, 4, 3 (3 players)

Hero bets $2.10, 1 fold, Button raises to $2.30 (All-In), Hero calls $0.20

Turn: ($6.80) A (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($6.80) 7 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $6.80 | Rake: $0.30

Results:

Button mucked J, 2, 6, A (two pair, Aces and threes).

Hero had A, 3, 6, A (full house, Aces over threes).

Outcome: Hero won $6.50


This is one of my favorite scenarios playing Aces in PLO (maybe second only to the next hand). The flop is way too kind, and even without it, I can almost anticipate the way the hand will play. I may have bet less on the flop and pulled a little more from the third player in the hand, yet I don’t like to give relatively cheap cards in PLO, and I know the initial raiser will most likely call my bet with his big pair. So, I go ahead and get heads up with the shortie. No big pair. In fact, one has to wonder what he was thinking. In hindsight, keeping the other player in might have been wiser.

PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha, $0.10 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($1.35)
SB ($10.50)
BB ($15.20)
UTG ($10.35)
UTG+1 ($10.05)
MP1 ($1.90)
Hero (MP2) ($10)
MP3 ($3.15)
CO ($24.25)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K, A, A, 3

2 folds, MP1 bets $0.30, Hero raises to $1.05, 2 folds, Button calls $1.05, 2 folds, MP1 calls $0.75

Flop: ($3.30) 8, 9, J (3 players)

MP1 bets $0.85 (All-In), Hero calls $0.85, Button calls $0.30 (All-In)

Turn: ($5.30) 4 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($5.30) A (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $5.30 | Rake: $0.25

Results:

Button mucked 3, 8, K, K (one pair, Kings).

MP1 had Q, Q, 2, 2 (one pair, Queens).

Hero had K, A, A, 3 (three of a kind, Aces).

Outcome: Hero won $5.05

I moved to a different table. Again, with the shorties. I’ve played with both of these folks before, but only the player to my right has left an impression. She’s a LAG hit-and-runner and will change the table dynamic within two hands of play, triple up or bust out in ten. I want to isolate her and put her to the test immediately. When my raise gets called by the button, I’m not too worried as his stack is what remains after a few beats in quick succession. I figure he’s tilting.