Poker plays with Pokerpeaker: Another chance to bluff in Omaha

As if my post a few weeks ago wasn't enough to convince you that you can actually bluff in Omaha, I'm presenting more evidence.

You seriously can. Or maybe you think I'm a donkey. Follow along and form your opinion later.

OK, so I'm playing .10/.25 Pot-Limit Omaha. I have the button. Is there anything better in life than the button in a poker game? Maybe babies, puppies and chocolate. And yeah, that too, but let's try to keep our mind out of the gutter from now on, OK? Other than those few things, no.

Anyway, I have said button, and it's folded around to me, and I look down at J♦ - T♣ - T♦ - A♦. Well, this hand isn't terrific, but it's definitely worth playing in position, as I do have a suited Ace and a hand that could easily flop top set.

I raise, though, not because I think it's a great hand, but because I have position, I have a chance to steal the blinds (however meager they are) and for deception. If I flop top set, for instance, would you put me on a set of 10s? Probably not because what idiot would raise with just a pair of 10s in Omaha?

Well, I do get a caller, but it's the big blind, and the flop comes 7♣ - K♦ - A♣. This flop didn't exactly hit me hard, but when the big blind just bets a quarter, I decide to call.

I'm doing this a bit more when my opponent makes a weak bet and I have position. Sometimes that means she is simply making a bet she wants me to call, but lately I've found, more often than not, that it means my opponent is attempting to buy the pot at a discount.

I don't believe in discounts in poker.

In this case, my opponent might have a pair or two pair or a draw, but I find it hard to put him on a set, and that's the only thing I fear. I'm not ready to raise yet, however. I do have some backdoor and gutter draws and would like to see another card. Not only that, but usually calling makes a weak opponent check the turn, and then I attack the check and get him or her to fold.

The 9♦ falls. Bingo! Now I have the nut flush draw along with another gutter. I doubt there's anything my opponent can bet here that will get me to fold this hand.

When he bets .35, I pause for a second. I do find it interesting that he's so willing to bet twice into me. That almost always says my opponent does have something. But the small bets tell me he doesn't have much. In fact it's probably safe to assume he has a draw. If he does, what he's doing isn't a bad idea, as he's giving himself odds to draw. These are blocker bets in a way, and against passive opponents, they work well.

I'm not passive, however. Or at least I try not to be. I raise .90 to $1.25. I know, I know, it's not a huge raise, but it's enough to signify that I'm serious about this hand. I wouldn't mind ending it right here to be honest.

But he calls. Hmmm. Yep, it's gotta be a draw.

The 6♣ falls, and I roll my eyes. Well, he just completed his draw, right?

He checks. Seriously? I guess it's good I'm online here, as that eye roll would have given away my intentions to fold when the draw was completed.

Now why is he checking here? That really makes so sense. Maybe he really does just have a weak Ace or two-pair.

If this were Hold 'Em, I think I'd be more careful, as a check raise is possible here. I've never really liked check-raises on the river, but it does happen. But in Omaha, check-raises are really rare because it's a pot-limit game and people just want to build the pot rather than get cute. That's honestly the right play too.

Therefore, I'm learning how to attack checks in Pot-Limit Omaha because almost always, checks signify weakness. If he had a flush, would he really check the river, when it's obvious I'm interested in this pot? Remember, I raised the turn. It's probably safe to assume I'd call a decent-sized river bet, right?

I grimace and bet the pot, $3.25. I'm going to test my theory. If indeed I'm wrong and he does check-raise me, then nice play by him and I'll fold.

But he folds. Sweet!

There were two crucial things for this bluff to work, and it's true of almost all bluffs. The first is I told a good story. I raised pre-flop, called the flop, then raised on the turn and bet the pot on the river. If that doesn't say good hand, I don't know what does.

The second is, of course, I had position. I don't think I'd try the bluff on the river out of position. In fact it'd be suicide to do that since I wasn't really sure where I stood until he checked first.

I realize this bluff didn't earn me a huge pot, but it's these little pots that really help you stay even until you do pick up a huge pot. And staying aggressive and making huge river bets will make it more likely that my opponents will pay me off when I indeed have a big hand.

Mar 2010

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