getting value out of your big hands

[Raindog 0]

I guess when I contemplate a completed session, the thing I ended questioning the most is how I bet my hands and whether I could have earned more out of my big hands. Two examples from one session, against same opponentHAND #1Omaha Hi/Low $0.50-$1 PL (real money), hand #1,515,534,342Table Kuopio, 25 Nov 2005 11:38 PM ETSeat 1: cbellomySeat 2: newbplayerSeat 4: zephyrinusSeat 5: BurmisTreeSeat 6: centerfield1Seat 7: HERO [ 2D,AH,AC,4C ]Seat 8: L0QTiSSeat 9: _JVCSR_Seat 10: kingfish56xANTES/BLINDSL0QTiS posts blind ($0.50), _JVCSR_ posts blind ($0.50).PRE-FLOPkingfish56x folds, cbellomy bets $2, newbplayer folds, zephyrinus folds, BurmisTree folds, centerfield1 folds, HERO calls $2, L0QTiS folds, _JVCSR_ calls $1.50.FLOP [board cards 4D,3C,10H ]_JVCSR_ checks, cbellomy bets $6, HERO calls $6, _JVCSR_ folds.TURN [board cards 4D,3C,10H,4S ]cbellomy checks, HERO bets $18.50, cbellomy folds.SHOWDOWNHERO wins $36.SUMMARYDealer: HEROPot: $37 | Rake: $1cbellomy loses $8newbplayer loses $0zephyrinus loses $0BurmisTree loses $0centerfield1 loses $0HERO bets $26.50, collects $36, net $9.50L0QTiS loses $0.50_JVCSR_ loses $2kingfish56x loses $0We each had about $40.00 stacks pre-flop.Questions: 1) Do you re-raise pre-flop? 2) Do you re-raise on the flop? I considered both actions but didn't obviously, though re-raising pre-flop without being able to get all or almost all your money in is something I don't like to do because it tends to give away your hand.I figured him for A2 , when he checks, potting the turn seems obvious. After he folded he said he had AA5x. HAND #2Omaha Hi/Low $0.50-$1 PL (real money), hand #1,515,573,972Table Kuopio, 25 Nov 2005 11:51 PM ETSeat 1: cbellomySeat 2: sobadsofarSeat 3: kgrkgr17Seat 4: zephyrinusSeat 5: BurmisTreeSeat 6: centerfield1Seat 7: HERO[ AS,5C,QC,2S ]Seat 8: L0QTiSSeat 9: _JVCSR_Seat 10: kingfish56xANTES/BLINDScenterfield1 posts blind ($0.50), HERO posts blind ($0.50).PRE-FLOPL0QTiS folds, _JVCSR_ calls $0.50, kingfish56x bets $1.20, cbellomy calls $1.20, sobadsofar folds, kgrkgr17 calls $1.20, zephyrinus folds, BurmisTree folds, centerfield1 calls $0.70, HERO calls $0.70, _JVCSR_ calls $0.70.FLOP [board cards 9D,4C,8C ]centerfield1 checks, HERO checks, _JVCSR_ checks, kingfish56x checks, cbellomy bets $7.20, kgrkgr17 folds, centerfield1 folds, HERO calls $7.20, _JVCSR_ folds, kingfish56x folds.TURN [board cards 9D,4C,8C,6C ]HERO checks, cbellomy checks.RIVER [board cards 9D,4C,8C,6C,5D ]HERO bets $15, cbellomy folds.SHOWDOWNHERO shows [ AS,5C,QC,2S ]HERO wins $35.60.SUMMARYDealer: BurmisTreePot: $36.60 | Rake: $1cbellomy loses $8.40sobadsofar loses $0kgrkgr17 loses $1.20zephyrinus loses $0BurmisTree loses $0centerfield1 loses $1.20HERO bets $23.40, collects $35.60, net $12.20L0QTiS loses $0_JVCSR_ loses $1.20kingfish56x loses $1.20The guy has just under $30.00 in his stack pre-flop. I have him covered.1) The guy has been playing pretty aggressively, so I check the turn intending to check-raise him all in. He checks behind. Should I have led out?2) On the river, I considered betting $10.00, but put in a $15.00 bet instead. He let his time run down and folded. I was hoping he might think I was trying to buy it. I regularly make smaller bets on the river to induce calls but where someone has shown strength in the hand I tend to go full pot or nearly full pot. Was a smaller bet in order?He let his time run down and folded at the last second claiming he had A3 plus a set.

[navybuttons 16]

i dont quite get the question.the only way i would have played it differently is in the second one on the turn i would have put in about a half-a-pot sized bet.if his hand is a strong as he says it was (maybe) he'd probably have to call here. though he's only drawing at half the pot either way.i don't always like checkraising in omaha unless there is no low and you have a lock for the high. because, in the second case, a 2 could of come off or the board could have paired giving him half the pot.maximizing bet potential is something thats determined against an opponent after a long session. it's tough to get a read on just how much he'll call. in the second example i just dont think there is any way he can call the river if its any sort of bet (and if he has A2 he might actually gain money in calling a small bet).but when you call the flop its probably giving away that you have the flush so you cant expect him to lead on the turn.all-in-all some really nice hands.

[Chamonyx 0]

Hand 1: You MUST raise pre-flop here, both to get value for your hand and to ensure that you get the button. Apart from that, looks fine - I would be worried about a wheel wrap on the flop and so would not re-raise, but I would push the turn if checked to or call if he bets.Hand 2: I think you have to bet out on the turn to pressure him if he has a weaker hand than you - and especially to deny the set a free card, or to avoid c-f risk.

[KVOM 0]

On hand 1 I agree that potting pre-flop is correct.

[Rocketwadster 0]

HAND #1We each had about $40.00 stacks pre-flop.Questions: 1) Do you re-raise pre-flop? 2) Do you re-raise on the flop? I considered both actions but didn't obviously, though re-raising pre-flop without being able to get all or almost all your money in is something I don't like to do because it tends to give away your hand.I figured him for A2 , when he checks, potting the turn seems obvious. After he folded he said he had AA5x. Others have indicated a pre-flop raise, which is fine, but I also think that there is merit to just calling there as well, depending on how the button plays. On the flop, I don't mind waiting to see what happens, as you do not have a made hand as of yet (I'm a pretty passive player though).HAND #21) The guy has been playing pretty aggressively, so I check the turn intending to check-raise him all in. He checks behind. Should I have led out?2) On the river, I considered betting $10.00, but put in a $15.00 bet instead. He let his time run down and folded. I was hoping he might think I was trying to buy it. I regularly make smaller bets on the river to induce calls but where someone has shown strength in the hand I tend to go full pot or nearly full pot. Was a smaller bet in order?He let his time run down and folded at the last second claiming he had A3 plus a set.

I honestly don't see much value in a river bet there. A river call on your part if your opponent bets (maybe even a check-raise), but I don't think leading out is the best play. That's just me though. I like the rest of the hand the way it is. 8)