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 opponent


HAND #1

Omaha Hi/Low $0.50-$1 PL (real money), hand #1,515,534,342
Table Kuopio, 25 Nov 2005 11:38 PM ET

Seat 1: cbellomy
Seat 2: newbplayer
Seat 4: zephyrinus
Seat 5: BurmisTree
Seat 6: centerfield1
Seat 7: HERO [ 2D,AH,AC,4C ]
Seat 8: L0QTiS
Seat 9: _JVCSR_
Seat 10: kingfish56x
ANTES/BLINDS
L0QTiS posts blind ($0.50), _JVCSR_ posts blind ($0.50).

PRE-FLOP
kingfish56x 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.

SHOWDOWN
HERO wins $36.

SUMMARY
Dealer: HERO
Pot: $37 | Rake: $1
cbellomy loses $8
newbplayer loses $0
zephyrinus loses $0
BurmisTree loses $0
centerfield1 loses $0
HERO bets $26.50, collects $36, net $9.50
L0QTiS loses $0.50
_JVCSR_ loses $2
kingfish56x loses $0

We 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 #2

Omaha Hi/Low $0.50-$1 PL (real money), hand #1,515,573,972
Table Kuopio, 25 Nov 2005 11:51 PM ET

Seat 1: cbellomy
Seat 2: sobadsofar
Seat 3: kgrkgr17
Seat 4: zephyrinus
Seat 5: BurmisTree
Seat 6: centerfield1
Seat 7: HERO[ AS,5C,QC,2S ]
Seat 8: L0QTiS
Seat 9: _JVCSR_
Seat 10: kingfish56x
ANTES/BLINDS
centerfield1 posts blind ($0.50), HERO posts blind ($0.50).

PRE-FLOP
L0QTiS 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.

SHOWDOWN
HERO shows [ AS,5C,QC,2S ]
HERO wins $35.60.

SUMMARY
Dealer: BurmisTree
Pot: $36.60 | Rake: $1
cbellomy loses $8.40
sobadsofar loses $0
kgrkgr17 loses $1.20
zephyrinus loses $0
BurmisTree loses $0
centerfield1 loses $1.20
HERO bets $23.40, collects $35.60, net $12.20
L0QTiS loses $0
_JVCSR_ loses $1.20
kingfish56x loses $1.20

The 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.

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.

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.

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

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)