Hand History Analysis - Omaha Hi-Lo

Hand History Analysis — 2/4 Omaha Hi-Lo

This hand is typical of some of the decisions that are common at lower stakes Omaha Hi-Lo games. Pots are often multi-way, and get lots of action. This is taken from a 10 handed, $2/$4 Omaha Hi-Lo game.

Preflop: A25K. You are in early position playing at BetUS poker room. One player ahead of you limps. Your hand is playable by virtue of the A2 combination alone. The 5 gives you some backup value for lo, but you’d rather it was a 3 or 4. You’ve also got an ace high flush draw, which always has value preflop, but the fact you also have the king hurts you, because no one can make the second nuts if the flush hits. In late position this hand is a raise, but here it’s just a call. You call and three others call behind you; the small blind calls and the big blind checks. 7 players to the flop, the pot is $14.

Flop: 23Q. It gets checked around to you. You have an inside draw to the wheel (A-5 straight), which would give you the nut lo and the second nut hi. You also have a backdoor flush and straight draw, and a pair of deuces. This is not a strong hand, so you check. The player just after you bets, and three players call. There’s now $22 in the pot and it’s  $2 for you to call. You’re getting 11:1 and your odds against you hitting the four are 43:4, 10.75:1. You may only win half the pot if you hit, but your other draws make this a call, although it’s a close decision. 4 players to the turn, $24 in the pot.

Turn: 4. Bingo! It gets checked to you. Some people might go for a check-raise here, but with only one player behind you and a scary turn card, it’s better just to bet. You bet, the player behind you calls, and an early position player check-raises. The other player in front of you folds and it’s up to you to reraise or just call. The only hand that really has you in trouble is someone with A56 — you would only get ¼ of the pot. Add in the fact that the guy behind you is probably on a draw that you would like to force out, and it’s a clear reraise. Unfortunately, the player behind you calls, the check-raiser caps, and you both call. 3 players to the river, $62 in the pot.

River: 3. A terrible card, the full house and the flush just hit. The first player bets, you call, and the guy behind you raises. The player in front of you just calls and you just call. 3 players to the showdown, $86 in the pot.

Showdown and Analysis: The player behind you has QQ in his hand and wins the hi. The player in front of you also has A5 (with no 6), and you split. You played it correctly, but the player in front of you should not have capped on the turn or bet out on the river. The guy behind you had 10 outs for the hi, which turn out to be $43. He had to call $8 when you reraised on the turn, so he was getting 5.4:1 on his call. His odds of hitting were 36:10, 3.6:1, so he was correct to call. You won $21.50 but put $28 in the pot. Frustrating, but welcome to playing Omaha. Sometimes you play perfect and the cards don’t fall your way.