Who is the fish? KsQ Ts9 O8, fixed limit. (2 Viewers)

[DrStrange]

We are playing mixed games, seven handed with $2/$4 fixed limits (four bets max). This rotation is Omaha, high / low split. This is a long running game, even so we still have players who can't read the board or figure if ace-deuce is the nut low with one of the cards counterfeited.

The cast of characters is mostly loose, passive calling stations. We have one loose-aggressive.

Hero is by far the tightest player at the table. The typical villain folds two times or less per rotation, Hero voluntarily plays two hands or so per rotation. It doesn't matter, the villains line up to call when hero bets / raises.

Stack sizes are not relevant due to the betting format.

The hand:

Three limps being us to Hero, one seat from the button. Hero has

Fold, limp for $2 or make it $4? Note that the players who pay attention will assume Hero's raise means ace-deuce or maybe ace-three.

 

[Pokerdweebz]

Limp

Edit: Double post

Edit: Double post disappeared....

 

[detroitdad]

Limp

Edit: Double post

Edit: Double post disappeared....

I'm tempted to raise vs this group. I'd start building a pot now. The texture of the flop should make any future decisions easy............."should".

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Just limp, your hand only plays one way. That being said, if that one way hits, you have some decent holdings.

 

[Rhodeman77]

Limp. Even if a raise is supposed to look like A2, these guys aren't folding and most hands will get to show down.

 

[Jimulacrum]

I could see a case for raising if we were first-in, or if there were only one limper, but with three loose limpers it's a very protected pot. All raising might accomplish is buying the button, which has a low likelihood of happening and isn't that valuable here anyway. If we want to play the hand, limping is the only way to go.

However, I think this would be a really marginal call, and a fold would be prudent (especially if there's any chance of a raise behind). Preflop hand selection is critical in O8, and this hand has "second best" written all over it—not to mention that it's a pure one-way hand.

 

[Pokerdweebz]

I'm tempted to raise vs this group. I'd start building a pot now. The texture of the flop should make any future decisions easy............."should".

Our hand just isn't strong enough to raise. IMO limping is just slightly better than folding.

 

[detroitdad]

Limp. Even if a raise is supposed to look like A2, these guys aren't folding and most hands will get to show down.

You've seen me play. I'm not folding. Especially in a limit game. Maybe I should limp, but I'm not. I want to start building a pot. If my hand hits, great. If not, fine. I'll slow down.

FWIW, I'm not saying I'm even closely right lol. I just like to answer these strategy threads as I would play them.

 

[moose]

Your hand only has value unless you flop a J. 4 outs. Even worse, if you get the flush draw, you won't know if it is good unless the As falls, and then likely you are defending against the low draw for half the pot. Finally if the As falls, you hold the K, unlikely you will get any action from someone with only at most a Q high flush.

 

[Puggy]

I would limp, say, 80% of the time and raise for about 20% of the time, just to give false information.
If the flop comes high only and connects, I will have a well discuised hand.

 

[DrStrange]

*** ok, now the flop ***

Hero limps, we end up with seven players with $14 in the pot. I might have raised if the cards were smooth or four broadway cards.

Flop:

Hero has

Five checks bring us to Hero. Bet $2 or check? Don't expect a lot of folds with a $2 bet, it is purely for value.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Top two, gutter to the nuts, and backdoor flush draw? Think that's a bet all day. Make them pay to hit that backdoor low.

 

[detroitdad]

Bet

 

[Jimulacrum]

Easy bet.

 

[Kain8]

To quote Fred Flintsone: B, b, bet bet bet bet!!!!

 

[DrStrange]

*** Ok Hero bets ***

Hero bets, four out of six call. Hero now has the button. Five way action $24 in the pot.

Turn: < >

Hero has

Everyone checks to Hero. Should hero bet $4 or check?

 

[Shaggy]

I think its a bet. You are behind sets only, you are have four outs to the nut straight... there is now a backdoor flush draw however. You have four outs to a boat. If either of your draws come in... there is no low. 6 clean outs to a scoop.

If you miss... it may check to you and you can check behind.

 

[courage]

Bet. You have top 2 and might be able to thin the field a tad. But you're going to have to check the river if you don't boat as almost every card is bad: Broadway, 6-8, or wheel cards likely improve someone.

 

[Kain8]

Everyone will find an excuse to call this turn if you bet. Bloat that pot and laugh to yourself if you get checkraised with so many nut outs and happily call for a T, 9, or J river.

 

[DrStrange]

There isn't anyone at the table likely to check raise without holding the nuts or near nuts. Plenty of them would donk bet into Hero, but check raising is a whole different matter. Not that Hero is ever folding to a $4 check/raise even knowing that someone is holding a powerhouse - by the time it got back around to hero the pot odds would support drawing just for the three off-suit gut shot cards.

 

[BGinGA]

Bet turn, but I can see where this is going......

Ac on river, and capped before it gets to hero - who likely isn't getting any part of the pot. River fold for four big bets..

 

[DrStrange]

That is about as far from what happened as might be imagined.

 

[BGinGA]

sorry, just projecting how these things usually work out for me.

 

[DrStrange]

*** The river ***

Hero bets and gets only one caller !? I can't imagine what junk they must have had to pay the flop bet but fold to the turn bet, but I am ok with folds for sure. Heads up with $32 in the pot.

River: < >

Hero has

Villain notes. This villain is aggressive. She bets almost anything (and calls with the rest). Never sneaky but quite willing to bet third pair in Omaha for value. She also can have trouble reading the board in this game, sometimes tabling counterfeited lows.

So this villain checks to Hero. Should hero bet $4 or check behind?

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Check you have showdown value.

 

[BGinGA]

Bet on the outside chance she has top pair (or a worse two pair) and no low. I think you are splitting worst-case.

 

[moose]

Heads up always bet.

 

[detroitdad]

Check you have showdown value.

I was going to agree with this.

but

Bet on the outside chance she has top pair (or a worse two pair) and no low. I think you are splitting worst-case.

Heads up always bet.

these guys make a lot of sense.

 

[Kain8]

Heads up always bet.

Damn right.

 

[Jimulacrum]

My instinct was to check, but the arguments for betting are making sense. We may also cause a weak low with no high prospects to fold, buying us half the pot, and I think that's the bulk of the value in betting here. Half the pot > one bet.

Of course, we may also get raised. Is this player so aggressive that we have to pay off a check-raise? That would make betting a bit more expensive, but overall it may still be the best play.