Mind Games

Nice Timing!

Hand for hand on the bubble

Pacific Poker - 2000/4000 Ante 400 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (UTG): 8,001
UTG+1: 3,468 (VPIP: 6.12, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 102)
MP: 4,353 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
MP+1: 29,937 (VPIP: 20.90, PFR: 3.45, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 68)
CO: 344 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 7)
BTN: 14,121 (VPIP: 18.47, PFR: 3.15, 3Bet Preflop: 4.17, Hands: 169)
SB: 28,647 (VPIP: 23.08, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 41)
BB: 1,872 (VPIP: 54.55, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)

7 players post ante of 400, CO posts ante 344 and is all-in, SB posts SB 2,000, BB posts BB 1,472

Pre Flop: (pot: 6,616) Hero has A♣:K♣:

Hero raises to 7,601 and is all-in, fold, fold, fold, BTN calls 7,601, fold

Flop: (21,818, 4 players) K♠:8♣:T♠:

Turn: (21,818, 4 players) 9♣:

River: (21,818, 4 players) 6♥:

Hero shows A♣:K♣: (One Pair, Kings)

Main Pot [2,752]: (Pre 35%, Flop 67%, Turn 75%)
Side Pot#1 [6,280]: (Pre 43%, Flop 77%, Turn 85%)
Side Pot#2 [12,786]: (Pre 74%, Flop 80%, Turn 85%)

CO shows Q♣:8♥: (One Pair, Eights)

Main Pot [2,752]: (Pre 22%, Flop 11%, Turn 10%)

BTN shows A♥:J♠: (High Card, Ace)

Main Pot [2,752]: (Pre 16%, Flop 19%, Turn 15%)
Side Pot#1 [6,280]: (Pre 20%, Flop 20%, Turn 15%)
Side Pot#2 [12,786]: (Pre 26%, Flop 20%, Turn 15%)

BB shows 6♦:4♦: (One Pair, Sixes)

Main Pot [2,752]: (Pre 28%, Flop 3%, Turn 0%)
Side Pot#1 [6,280]: (Pre 37%, Flop 3%, Turn 0%)

Hero wins 2,752
Hero wins 6,280
Hero wins 12,786

The Danger of Overplaying AAxxx in Omaha Hi/Lo
Since there's no low hand, I guess that this applies to Omaha as well

It could also be argued that I was relying too much on my weakish two pair plus a lot of straight outs as well.

I didn't count 'em, but it appears that my Turn call was justified — I admit I was rather worried.

PokerStars, 5 Card Omaha H/L Pot Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 4 players
Hand delivered by Pokeit

UTG: $24.01 (96 bb)
BU: $40.47 (162 bb)
SB: $21.00 (84 bb)
BB (Hero): $20.34 (81 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with 5♦ 8♦ T♥ 9♠ 7♣
UTG calls $0.25, BTN raises to $1.10, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.85, UTG calls $0.85

Flop: ($3.40) 5♥ Q♦ 9♣ (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, BTN bets $3.26, Hero calls $3.26, UTG calls $3.26

Turn: ($13.18) 4♣ (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, BTN bets $12.62, Hero calls $12.62, UTG folds

River: ($38.42) K♥ (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

Total pot: $38.42 (Rake: $1)

Showdown:
BU mucks T♠ T♣ Q♥ A♦ A♥ (HI: a pair of Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 44%, Flop: 25%, Turn: 18%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) shows 5♦ 8♦ T♥ 9♠ 7♣ (HI: two pair, Nines and Fives)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 56%, Flop: 75%, Turn: 82%, River: 100%)

BB (Hero) wins $37.42

This I like, why not add Omaha Hi/Lo to my arsenal. Very interesting.

Posted by: @taavi1337

↑

This I like, why not add Omaha Hi/Lo to my arsenal. Very interesting.

Omaha Hi/Lo is an interesting game in that you pay a lot in rake, so it is very good for gaining points for bonuses and so on.

However, it can be a trap.  If there are only two people in the pot, and you have only the nut hi or nut low, and you''re both betting, a split pot can actually cost you money.  Worse, if you tie for one or the other, you might get only 25% of the pot.

In this game, implied odds are a huge factor, and drawing to the nuts is a requirement.

Important Questions

…What worse will call?
…What better will fold?

I guess we just found out: — opponent turned over ATo

Pacific Poker - 300/600 Ante 60 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: 6,759 (VPIP: 31.25, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 25.00, Hands: 17)
MP+1: 8,536 (VPIP: 20.33, PFR: 5.17, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 126)
CO: 10,789 (VPIP: 55.56, PFR: 19.23, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)
BTN: 984 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 27)
SB: 3,943 (VPIP: 11.95, PFR: 3.05, 3Bet Preflop: 3.57, Hands: 163)
Hero (BB): 14,744
UTG: 1,349 (VPIP: 4.05, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 3.57, Hands: 193)
UTG+1: 9,505 (VPIP: 20.00, PFR: 7.14, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)

8 players post ante of 60, SB posts SB 300, Hero posts BB 600

Pre Flop: (pot: 1,380) Hero has K♠:T♣:

fold, UTG+1 raises to 1,200, MP calls 1,200, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls 600

Flop: (4,380, 3 players) 6♣:9♦:T♠:
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets 2,890, fold, Hero calls 2,890

Turn: (10,160, 2 players) 3♣:
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets 600, Hero calls 600

River: (11,360, 2 players) 8♦:
Hero bets 9,994 and is all-in, fold

Hero wins 11,360

The Worst Hand in Poker
…Wins 3-way pot

Pacific Poker - 50/100 Ante 10 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 2,946 (VPIP: 35.29, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
Hero (BB): 2,970
UTG: 2,949 (VPIP: 12.16, PFR: 3.39, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 78)
UTG+1: 2,839 (VPIP: 32.26, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 33)
MP: 3,394 (VPIP: 14.29, PFR: 5.88, 3Bet Preflop: 5.88, Hands: 105)
MP+1: 6,374 (VPIP: 30.77, PFR: 11.54, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 43)
CO: 2,864 (VPIP: 45.00, PFR: 27.78, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 20)
BTN: 2,664 (VPIP: 10.81, PFR: 2.41, 3Bet Preflop: 4.76, Hands: 114)

8 players post ante of 10, SB posts SB 50, Hero posts BB 100

Pre Flop: (pot: 230) Hero has 7♦:2♠:

fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, BTN calls 100, SB calls 50, Hero checks

Flop: (380, 3 players) K♥:J♣:7♣:
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: (380, 3 players) 5♥:
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN checks

River: (380, 3 players) 4♠:
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN checks

SB shows A♠:9♦: (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 23%, Flop 7%, Turn 5%)
Hero shows 7♦:2♠: (One Pair, Sevens)
(Pre 24%, Flop 34%, Turn 55%)
BTN mucks A♣:T♣: (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 52%, Flop 59%, Turn 40%)
Hero wins 380

Scoop!

Just as in plo8, winning both the high and low hands in stud8 is the key to winning long term.  Here we're playing $2.50/$5.00 blinds, a $0.40 ante and a $0.85 bring-in.

In this hand, we are tied on 5th street with an 8-high straight.
Sixth street gives me 9-high straight for 3/4 of the pot — assuming no other changes, but Seventh street gives me the low, for a fantastic pot.

If you ever need a hand converter, this one is very old, but still works, where all the others failed.

Your converted hand, now with more cowbell.
PokerStars Limit Stud Hi/Lo $2.50/$5.00 ante $0.40 - 5 players

Seat 1: $98.59 [X] [X]
Seat 2: $131.51 [X] [X]
Seat 4: $128.72 [X] [X]
Seat 5: $74.93 [] [] []
Seat 6: $90.27 (Hero)

3rd Street: ($2.00) (5 players)
Seat 1 brings, 2 folds, Seat 5 raises to $2.50, Hero calls $2.50, Seat 1 calls $1.65

4th Street: ($8.65) (3 players)
Seat 5 checks, Hero checks, Seat 1 checks

5th Street: ($8.65) (3 players)
Seat 5 bets $5, Hero calls $5, Seat 1 folds

6th Street: ($18.65) (2 players)
Seat 5 bets $5, Hero raises to $10, Seat 5 raises to $15, Hero raises to $20, Seat 5 calls $5

River: ($58.65) (2 players)
Seat 5 checks, Hero bets $5, Seat 5 calls $5

Seat 5 mucked
Hero showed, HI: a straight, Five to Nine; LO: 7,6,5,4,3
Hero won $68.25
(Rake: $1.25)

Nice to see that a Stud8 table at those limits was running, even though I don't intend to play cash games of any kind any time soon, and I also plan to stay away from Stud8 tournaments for a while. Also nice to see that the Feral Cows are back, for some nostalgia of sorts.  

Didn't your opponent hit their straight on 6th street, however, or am I reading it wrong?

Nice hand either way!  

Posted by: @harrier88

↑

Didn't your opponent hit their straight on 6th street, however, or am I reading it wrong?

You're quite correct.  Thanks for pointing that out.

Feral Cow has always been there, it's just that I've been using Pokeit for a long time

Posted by: @vorpalf2f

↑

Feral Cow has always been there, it's just that I've been using Pokeit for a long time

Same, or at least one of its various skins. Visually, it seems to be the best converter for non-Hold'em games. I still appreciate the legacy of Feral Cow, which was the first hand converter compatible with Stud and Draw games that I was aware of.

…suck out 4-way on the first hand, and coast from there

Pacific Poker - 15/30 Ante 3 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 3,000 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 2)
SB: 3,000 (VPIP: 40.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 11)
BB: 3,000
UTG: 3,000 (VPIP: 26.97, PFR: 8.86, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 91)
UTG+1: 3,000 (VPIP: 23.86, PFR: 11.69, 3Bet Preflop: 3.23, Hands: 181)
MP: 3,000 (VPIP: 30.36, PFR: 16.04, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 115)
MP+1: 3,000 (VPIP: 17.98, PFR: 6.38, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 183)
Hero (CO): 3,000

8 players post ante of 3, SB posts SB 15, BB posts BB 30

Pre Flop: (pot: 69) Hero has

fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2,997 and is all-in, BTN calls 2,997 and is all-in, SB calls 2,982 and is all-in, BB calls 2,967 and is all-in

Flop: (12,012, 4 players)

Turn: (12,012, 4 players)

River: (12,012, 4 players)

BTN shows (Two Pair, Jacks and Sevens)

SB shows (One Pair, Sevens)

BB shows (Two Pair, Sevens and Twos)

Hero shows (Full House, Fives full of Sevens)

Hero wins 12,012

…once again a critical win with almost no chips left 3 hands before the money

Since I'm UTG, I lose my stack in the next two hands, so I may as well get it in now.

Pacific Poker - 1500/3000 Ante 300 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 3,221 (VPIP: 12.20, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 83)
BTN: 6,061 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
BB: 12,564 (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 14.29, Hands: 18)
Hero (UTG): 2,257
UTG+1: 14,874 (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 7.69, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 42)
MP: 14,186 (VPIP: 10.48, PFR: 2.63, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 111)
MP+1: 1,611 (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 13)

7 players post ante of 300, BB posts BB 3,000

Pre Flop: (pot: 5,100) Hero has

Hero calls 1,957 and is all-in, UTG+1 calls 3,000, fold, fold, CO calls 2,921 and is all-in, fold, BB checks

Flop: (12,978, 4 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 bets 6,000, fold

Turn: (12,978, 3 players)

River: (12,978, 3 players)

CO shows (Two Pair, Jacks and Threes)

Hero shows (Two Pair, Aces and Sixes)

UTG+1 shows (Two Pair, Jacks and Threes)

UTG+1 wins 158
Hero wins 9,928
UTG+1 wins 1,446
CO wins 1,446

…there comes a time when you've got so much else to do, that you realize that the few cents you'll gain from the freeroll aren't worth the time. So you just shove your A7s.
And win, of course

Pacific Poker - 75/150 Ante 15 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 5,368 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 3.23, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 34)
UTG: 2,744 (VPIP: 8.11, PFR: 5.08, 3Bet Preflop: 18.18, Hands: 76)
UTG+1: 2,680 (VPIP: 35.21, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 71)
MP: 15,443 (VPIP: 46.67, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 50.00, Hands: 17)
CO: 8,988 (VPIP: 36.69, PFR: 11.81, 3Bet Preflop: 5.00, Hands: 175)
BTN: 2,767 (VPIP: 22.43, PFR: 8.79, 3Bet Preflop: 5.56, Hands: 110)
Hero (SB): 3,104

7 players post ante of 15, Hero posts SB 75, BB posts BB 150

Pre Flop: (pot: 330) Hero has

fold, fold, MP raises to 300, fold, BTN raises to 2,752 and is all-in, Hero raises to 3,089 and is all-in, fold, MP calls 2,789

Flop: (9,185, 3 players)

Turn: (9,185, 3 players)

River: (9,185, 3 players)

MP shows (Two Pair, Queens and Threes)

Main Pot [8,511]: (Pre 25%, Flop 74%, Turn 88%)
Side Pot#1 [674]: (Pre 38%, Flop 82%, Turn 93%)

BTN shows (Two Pair, Jacks and Threes)

Main Pot [8,511]: (Pre 45%, Flop 11%, Turn 5%)

Hero shows (Two Pair, Aces and Threes)

Main Pot [8,511]: (Pre 29%, Flop 16%, Turn 7%)
Side Pot#1 [674]: (Pre 62%, Flop 18%, Turn 7%)

Hero wins 8,511
Hero wins 674

Yes taking freeroll seriously is difficult...

…Nice flop, nice runout

Pacific Poker - 15/30 Ante 3 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP+1: 3,000 (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 4)
CO: 3,000 (VPIP: 46.67, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
BTN: 3,000 (VPIP: 31.72, PFR: 8.80, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 149)
Hero (SB): 3,000
BB: 3,000 (VPIP: 60.00, PFR: 37.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 10)
UTG: 3,000
UTG+1: 3,000 (VPIP: 36.21, PFR: 12.00, 3Bet Preflop: 8.33, Hands: 60)
MP: 3,000 (VPIP: 46.67, PFR: 7.14, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 30)

8 players post ante of 3, Hero posts SB 15, BB posts BB 30

Pre Flop: (pot: 69) Hero has

UTG raises to 2,997 and is all-in, fold, fold, MP+1 calls 2,997 and is all-in, CO calls 2,997 and is all-in, fold, Hero calls 2,982 and is all-in, BB calls 2,967 and is all-in

Flop: (15,009, 5 players)

Turn: (15,009, 5 players)

River: (15,009, 5 players)

MP+1 shows (Two Pair, Tens and Sevens)

CO shows (One Pair, Sevens)

Hero shows (Full House, Eights full of Sevens)

BB shows (Three of a Kind, Sevens)

UTG shows (Two Pair, Jacks and Sevens)

Hero wins 15,009

…I planned on check/call OTF, to try to get some value if my straight hit, but I'm glad I didn't since my backdoor flush and backdoor nut low both get there on the turn and river

PokerStars, 5 Card Omaha H/L Pot Limit - $0.25/$0.50 - 6 players
Hand delivered by Pokeit

UTG: $47.50 (95 bb)
MP: $72.22 (144 bb)
CO: $38.50 (77 bb)
BU: $64.77 (130 bb)
SB (Hero): $57.60 (115 bb)
BB: $150.27 (301 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.75) Hero is SB with
1 fold, MP calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, BTN raises to $2.75, Hero calls $2.50, 1 fold, MP calls $2.25, CO calls $2.25

Flop: ($11.50) (4 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, CO checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($11.50) (4 players)
Hero bets $5.68, MP folds, CO calls $5.68, BTN calls $5.68

River: ($28.54) (3 players)
Hero bets $27.11, CO calls $27.11, BU folds

Total pot: $82.76 (Rake: $2)

Showdown:
SB (Hero) shows (HI: a flush, Ace high; LO: 5-4-3-2-A)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 54%, Flop: 44%, Turn: 42%, River: 100%)

CO mucks (HI: a flush, Jack high; LO: 8-4-3-2-A)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 46%, Flop: 56%, Turn: 58%, River: 0%)

SB (Hero) wins $80.76

…just barely ITM, but this should be good for at least one ladder

Pacific Poker - 3000/6000 Ante 600 NL (8 max) - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: 3,777 (VPIP: 22.45, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 51)
Hero (CO): 1,174
BTN: 29,632 (VPIP: 38.00, PFR: 14.63, 3Bet Preflop: 6.25, Hands: 51)
SB: 13,010 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 60.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 6)
BB: 11,473 (VPIP: 19.15, PFR: 2.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 48)
UTG: 11,583 (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 4)
UTG+1: 11,328 (VPIP: 31.03, PFR: 11.56, 3Bet Preflop: 6.52, Hands: 207)

7 players post ante of 600, SB posts SB 3,000, BB posts BB 6,000

Pre Flop: (pot: 13,200) Hero has

UTG calls 6,000, fold, fold, Hero calls 574 and is all-in, BTN calls 6,000, SB calls 3,000, BB checks

Flop: (28,774, 5 players)
SB bets 6,410 and is all-in, fold, UTG calls 4,983 and is all-in, BTN calls 6,410

Turn: (46,577, 4 players)

River: (46,577, 4 players)

Hero shows (Flush, Ace High)

BTN shows (One Pair, Kings)

SB shows (Straight, Jack High)

UTG shows (Flush, King High)

Hero wins 7,070
UTG wins 36,653
SB wins 2,854