how to play top/bottom pair?

[ChrisOfSpades 0]

i've been in this situation a few times, and it always puzzle me how to play it. non-raised pot, im in the BB, buncha limpers, my hand is janky, but i hit the flop w/ top bottom pair. somethin like this:my hand: T942 w/ two suited cardsflop: 10 6 2 rainbow (no chance for me to backdoor)how do you play this? im not versed in omaha by any means. i know some basic things, but this always puzzles me.

[Davin 0]

i've been in this situation a few times, and it always puzzle me how to play it. non-raised pot, im in the BB, buncha limpers, my hand is janky, but i hit the flop w/ top bottom pair. somethin like this:my hand: T942 w/ two suited cardsflop: 10 6 2 rainbow (no chance for me to backdoor)how do you play this? im not versed in omaha by any means. i know some basic things, but this always puzzles me.

check/foldyour hand sucks horribly. you have no outs to the nuts, no backdoor outs, and even if your have the best hand at the time, your opponents will almost always have a shitload of outs against you. not to mention you have no position, which is the most important thing in omaha.on the flip-side, if you were on the button w/ this hand (although you shouldnt be since you should fold pf), and it gets checked to you. go ahead and pot it. if you get called, play cautiously depending on the turn. if you get raised, fold.

[ChrisOfSpades 0]

i've been in this situation a few times, and it always puzzle me how to play it. non-raised pot, im in the BB, buncha limpers, my hand is janky, but i hit the flop w/ top bottom pair. somethin like this:my hand: T942 w/ two suited cardsflop: 10 6 2 rainbow (no chance for me to backdoor)how do you play this? im not versed in omaha by any means. i know some basic things, but this always puzzles me.

check/foldyour hand sucks horribly. you have no outs to the nuts, no backdoor outs, and even if your have the best hand at the time, your opponents will almost always have a censored of outs against you. not to mention you have no position, which is the most important thing in omaha.on the flip-side, if you were on the button w/ this hand (although you shouldnt be since you should fold pf), and it gets checked to you. go ahead and pot it. if you get called, play cautiously depending on the turn. if you get raised, fold.

hmm...should i be lookin to protect at all w/ top two pair? since there are only two gutshots present, should i be tryin to force those draws out, or is that not recommended in omaha? i get the sense that you should play two pair and sets cautiously w/o any strong redraws.and yes, that hand would have been dumped fastly if i had it on the button. but there are playable hands from the button where a similar situation can happen. well, maybe not, cuz there'd probably be some sort of redraw in my hand.

[Davin 0]

hmm...should i be lookin to protect at all w/ top two pair?  since there are only two gutshots present, should i be tryin to force those draws out, or is that not recommended in omaha?  

top two is very situational. depends on the number of opponents and the general play of the table (ie. passive or aggressive). generally speaking, i never try to get too involved in a hand oop w/ just two pair. if you just have one or two opponents, then i'd go ahead and pot it. if you have more than that, check and see what develops. you'll find much better oppurtunities to get your money in the pot other than two pair oop w/ no redraws. remember, never lose all your money in an unraised pot.

[ChrisOfSpades 0]

remember, never lose all your money in an unraised pot.

good advice. thanks.

[Fritzmania 0]

check/fold

Agreed.The reason this is such a bad hand for you in this case (and in general), is that you are not going to force out the low draws and they may very well end up with hands that beat your current high. For example, let's say an Ace hits on the turn. You very realistically could now be behind to A-10, A-9 or A-2. Also, a 3, 4, 5 8 or 9 makes a straight possible on the turn. That's a lot of cards to dodge and that's just the turn.

[Wingmaster05 0]

check/fold

Agreed.The reason this is such a bad hand for you in this case (and in general), is that you are not going to force out the low draws and they may very well end up with hands that beat your current high. For example, let's say an Ace hits on the turn. You very realistically could now be behind to A-10, A-9 or A-2. Also, a 3, 4, 5 8 or 9 makes a straight possible on the turn. That's a lot of cards to dodge and that's just the turn.

True, this hand is even worse for hi/lo...but i think you forgot to check which forum you were in! easier c/f if its hi/lo, c/f if PLO. If it checks through and you spike a 2 or 10, now you can be quite sure you have the best hand, go ahead and bet. Most blind hands i fold on the flop unless the flop is close to the nuts. I had a few bad experiences with hands i wouldnt normally play that i lost my stack with. don't force yourself to play if you dont feel comfortable w/o a solid hand.

[Wingmaster05 0]

Fritz, i'm assuming you play PLO and hi/lo...which do you like better? (Not necessarily the one you make more money in, although it probably is more enjoyable if you are making a boat load :-) )

[matthew r 0]

doesnt everyone know two pair sucks in omaha

[Deepkoncntrtion 0]

I make money w. top 2 short-handed in LP. Need 2 bully once in awhile.

[Fritzmania 0]

Fritz, i'm assuming you play PLO and hi/lo...which do you like better? (Not necessarily the one you make more money in, although it probably is more enjoyable if you are making a boat load :-) )

I have actually learned to love limit 8/b, although I have played all forms of Omaha. The main reason being the fact that I can rely on tons of chasers; people chasing inferior highs or highs without odds, people chasing for runner-runner lows, etc. Yes, you will probably take more tough beats in limit, but the highs more than make up for it.Limit 8/b brings out the worst in people and I am right there to cash in. Now I actually built my bankroll initially playing PLO and then PLO8. However, since the games tend to be looser in limit than PL (at least on UB where I mainly play), I can make money much faster, so that's what I usually play.

[Fritzmania 0]

True, this hand is even worse for hi/lo...but i think you forgot to check which forum you were in!

You would think so, but I played in a PLO tourney last weekend and I had to double check multiple times that it wasn't 8/b. I couldn't believe the hands people were playing. My A-A-J-10 was getting smoked by A-2-4-6. I kept sitting there saying to myself, "What the hell hand did this guy play that has a 6 in it?"As a result, I've kind of avoided high only, as I am currently a little gunshy. :oops:

[SpeedKills 0]

I make money w. top 2 short-handed in LP. Need 2 bully once in awhile.

true