Playing Shorthanded

[AK33 0]

I'm generally new to omaha, I've read a few good guides and I've been playing for about a month bringing in about 6-8bb's per hour on average. However this has been at full tables, I was wondering what are some of the appropriate adjustments to make when playing shorthanded? I hate loosening up starting hand requirements so I hope that's not the way to go...Perhaps raising and reraising quality hands preflop but what about after flops that don't quite hit your hand?Thanks.

[navybuttons 16]

I'm generally new to omaha, I've read a few good guides and I've been playing for about a month bringing in about 6-8bb's per hour on average. However this has been at full tables, I was wondering what are some of the appropriate adjustments to make when playing shorthanded? I hate loosening up starting hand requirements so I hope that's not the way to go...Perhaps raising and reraising quality hands preflop but what about after flops that don't quite hit your hand?Thanks.

if 4 or 5 players are going to the flop you don't have to change at all. if the flops are heads up, your generally high hands (A4KQ etc) gain a lot more value.in passive games with 4 or 5 to the flop a lot of your money is from people chasing inferior draws. heads up your money comes from pushing people off weak 2 pairs or having a better 2 pair or trips when you can't push them off.but this is just my opinion as it makes the most sense. i don't play a lot of shorthanded though.

[checkymcfold 0]

shorthanded is profoundly different from full ring.shorthanded is all about isolation plays with hands that would seem like crap in a full ring game.shorthanded is a money machine.

[antistuff 0]

full ring holdem and short handed holdem are very different games.full ring o8 and short handed o8 are only slightly different games.at low limits anyway, imo.

[checkymcfold 0]

full ring holdem and short handed holdem are very different games.full ring o8 and short handed o8 are only slightly different games.at low limits anyway, imo.

nonono. the difference between shorthanded and full ring is so much bigger in lo8 than in LHE it's not even funny.in lo8, the entire focus of the game switches. you have to stop focusing on drawing to the nuts and start focusing on getting hands HU with cards that can make ANY 2-card high and ANY 2-card low, then capping the bejesus out of every street once you do get it HU.

[AK33 0]

nonono. the difference between shorthanded and full ring is so much bigger in lo8 than in LHE it's not even funny.in lo8, the entire focus of the game switches. you have to stop focusing on drawing to the nuts and start focusing on getting hands HU with cards that can make ANY 2-card high and ANY 2-card low, then capping the bejesus out of every street once you do get it HU.

So this is more of a position game trying to isolate against one opponent or the blinds with a marginal hand? Then crashing the flop and gauging your opponents?

[bassplayer45459 0]

Yes and no to the above comment. You are always supposed to play for the scoop, but winning the half in a big ring game can still be profitable. I like to play more high oriented hands in omaha hi/lo and raise coming in shorthanded. I like to take more people in with me with low hands and play them like in a big ring game. You will find that most people play any cards and if you tighten up a little you will take down more pots

[AK33 0]

Yes and no to the above comment. You are always supposed to play for the scoop, but winning the half in a big ring game can still be profitable. I like to play more high oriented hands in omaha hi/lo and raise coming in shorthanded. I like to take more people in with me with low hands and play them like in a big ring game. You will find that most people play any cards and if you tighten up a little you will take down more pots

Meaning QJT9, KQJT and the sort?

[ahosang 0]

nonono. the difference between shorthanded and full ring is so much bigger in lo8 than in LHE it's not even funny.in lo8, the entire focus of the game switches. you have to stop focusing on drawing to the nuts and start focusing on getting hands HU with cards that can make ANY 2-card high and ANY 2-card low, then capping the bejesus out of every street once you do get it HU.

This is one of the few worthwhile posts I've read in this forum. If you want to progress at O8, this is a post you'd do well to remember.As checkymfold says in regard to shorthanded O8, learning to play hands more aggressively - and not fold so often after the flop - will result in a greater winrate than anything shorthanded holdem can offer.10-handed O8 is a mechanical game, where playing the nuts/nut-draws is generally correct. Mediocre players can win against loose players simply by employing ultra-tight starting standards and then playing for the scoop from there.In shorthanded O8, you will lose waaay too many blinds to play only powerful hands. Also, good players will pressure you into folding your '2nd nut low/2nd nut draw' hand when raising with their '3rd nut low/1 pair' hand. Position with isolation too as AK33 said. A necessary free card on the turn is a wonderful option to have!!Shorthanded O8 is a difficult game. Play it well and you make money....

[dreamcrusher28 0]

Just want to mark this one as my SHLO8 game is pretty weak and people flock to them at the low limit AP tables. I defintely play too passive SH. Good post.

[AK33 0]

This is one of the few worthwhile posts I've read in this forum. If you want to progress at O8, this is a post you'd do well to remember.As checkymfold says in regard to shorthanded O8, learning to play hands more aggressively - and not fold so often after the flop - will result in a greater winrate than anything shorthanded holdem can offer.10-handed O8 is a mechanical game, where playing the nuts/nut-draws is generally correct. Mediocre players can win against loose players simply by employing ultra-tight starting standards and then playing for the scoop from there.In shorthanded O8, you will lose waaay too many blinds to play only powerful hands. Also, good players will pressure you into folding your '2nd nut low/2nd nut draw' hand when raising with their '3rd nut low/1 pair' hand. Position with isolation too as AK33 said. A necessary free card on the turn is a wonderful option to have!!Shorthanded O8 is a difficult game. Play it well and you make money....

Like I said, I'm new to the game and the shorthanded play intrigues me. Full table O8 is profitable with good starting hand discipline but the overall strategy seems too straight forward for thinking players to improve. I've been on and off at the shorthanded game so I wanted some advise. Checky and ahosang, thanks for the advice, i'll be looking for more in the future. If you need tournament NLHE advice fire away.THX.

[checkymcfold 0]

Like I said, I'm new to the game and the shorthanded play intrigues me. Full table O8 is profitable with good starting hand discipline but the overall strategy seems too straight forward for thinking players to improve. I've been on and off at the shorthanded game so I wanted some advise. Checky and ahosang, thanks for the advice, i'll be looking for more in the future. If you need tournament NLHE advice fire away.THX.

no problem man. honestly, lo8 is a great game for developing a high level of feel that oftentimes you can't get from learning just LHE, etc. also, sh lo8, along with stud8 and stud hi, are games in which a good player can exploit an edge for more profit than other games. best of luck, man.

[navybuttons 16]

i was wondering if you could post some hands checky.i took your advice yesterday and slaughtered the table. i may have been too maniacal but the deck smashed me over the head (although oftentimes i know where my opponent is at) and i just wanted to see how you're are playing shO8.i think i played against Dave Ulliot once on UB heads up O8 and held the deck and took me for a lot. crazy, crazy, crazy betting.

[checkymcfold 0]

i was wondering if you could post some hands checky.i took your advice yesterday and slaughtered the table. i may have been too maniacal but the deck smashed me over the head (although oftentimes i know where my opponent is at) and i just wanted to see how you're are playing shO8.i think i played against Dave Ulliot once on UB heads up O8 and held the deck and took me for a lot. crazy, crazy, crazy betting.

nice, congrats!as for hands, i'll start looking for interesting ones as i play in the next week or so. i'll try to explain what i do on every street and why. i've been playing mostly full ring, but sometimes i get the opportunity to make some isolation plays there too, so we'll see.heads up lo8 is a beast, but a fun beast don't EVER sit with someone who you think might be better than you at HU, because they'll undoubtedly take all your money.