"Nut Nut" is something you always want to say when you turn over your hand in an omaha 8/b game. I was playing in a small stakes on line omaha 8/b game (most of which are pretty soft) and picked up the following hand: Ah-2c-6h-Kc. With several limpers, I limped as well and wanted to make sure I hit the flop big before committing any more money to the pot. The flop came 10h-4h-7c. While I hadn't made anything yet, I had draws to both the nut flush and nut low. After a bet and a call in front of me, I raised on my big draw. As desired, everyone behind me folded and the other two players called the bet. The turn was my gin card--the three of hearts. This completed my nut low and nut flush.
The betting on this street was what got interesting. I was last to act and by the time it got to me there was already a bet and a raise. I made it 3 bets and the initial bettor capped it at 4. Everyone called. At that point, I figured I would be getting 3/4 of the pot and split the low. The river card was an off suit queen--basically a blank card for my hand. Just like on the turn, there was another bet and raise before me. I made it 3 and it got capped again. When all of the hands were finally turned up, one player showed A-5-6-10. He flopped top pair and top kicker, turned a straight and a low but neither was good enough. The other player who turned out to be the real donkey showed Kh-Qh-9-8. He had a big draw on the flop and made the flush on the turn. However, this player was the one that kept doing the extra raising for me.
While clearly, both of my opponents were justified to play their hands, their betting was not done too well. I think this hand clearly shows you that you need to be very careful when you are chasing non nut draws in omaha 8/b and to not go too crazy with your raising when you get there.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Exploit your table image
Sometimes you can have a session at the table where you can do nothing wrong. You're catching cards at the right time and always seem to end up with the nuts. Of course, nobody can continually catch the nuts hand after hand. However, after catching a good run of cards, your opponents will not be as inclined to play a pot with you. A good player will capitalize on this and exploit their table image. This is why many people say that you lose more money when playing longer than you should after losing and you don't win enough money when quitting early when you're winning. While the latter part of that statement might not make sense, you are giving up on a well established image if you quit early after winning. If you keep playing, you have the potential to win even more. Of course, if you already prescribe to a method of a time limit at the table or some other factor, then you should quit when you planned to.
I was able to take advantage of my table image in my usual $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game in late 2005. In the first orbit of play, I busted a player with set over set. A few hands later I play a big pot after my 9s-7s made a flush on the turn and put a good dent in another player's stack. I know I play better when I'm "free rolling" on won money at the table. In other words, I become a much more dangerous player when I have accumulated a lot of chips. I played pretty solid for the next couple of hours, building up my initial buy in of $200 to almost $700. I really hadn't made any bluffs as I was catching a lot of cards. I had A-Q crack an opponent's slow played A-A when I it a flop of Q-Q-x and my opponent moved all in on the flop. Needless to say, I was the one player at the table that nobody wanted to mess with. If I wasn't out playing my opponents, I was out flopping them.
Of course, other than getting lucky, you have to get your opponents to lay down the best hand every now and then to be a winner. This was where my table image really came into play. I picked up A-10 in late position after some limpers, so I raised the pot to $12. I was surprised to get 4 callers, but that is somewhat typical for the no limit game I play in. The flop came 10-8-5 rainbow. I liked the flop--I had top pair with top kicker. The action that followed was quite interesting. The first player to act led out for another $12--less than one fourth of the pot. I read this bet as weak and put him on some kind of straight draw or a pair of 8s. Hands like 9-7 and J-8 and J-9 came to mind. One player folded and then another player raised to $35. This was the same player that I made a flush on earlier. I knew that this player had seen all of my good fortune that night. This player was also a good enough player to lay down medium strength hands. I also figured that he was tilting a bit after losing over $400 by my estimate. I reraised to $100. The initial better quickly folded and my victim was clearly frustrated. He flashed the 8c-5c and threw his hand into the muck. My hand quickly followed and I took down a nice pot. I don't know what my other opponents held, but I'm sure that this player got priced into the pot with a suited connector. I don't mind his call that much as there were several donkeys at the table. However, I knew my image and reputation from prior hands made him fold (reraising to $100 doesn't hurt either). I was asked if I held a set of 10s. I lied and said that I had flopped a set of 10s again (that was my set from earlier in the session). I guess the moral from this story is to not be afraid to exploit your table image and put your opponents to the test when you have a big stack.
I was able to take advantage of my table image in my usual $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game in late 2005. In the first orbit of play, I busted a player with set over set. A few hands later I play a big pot after my 9s-7s made a flush on the turn and put a good dent in another player's stack. I know I play better when I'm "free rolling" on won money at the table. In other words, I become a much more dangerous player when I have accumulated a lot of chips. I played pretty solid for the next couple of hours, building up my initial buy in of $200 to almost $700. I really hadn't made any bluffs as I was catching a lot of cards. I had A-Q crack an opponent's slow played A-A when I it a flop of Q-Q-x and my opponent moved all in on the flop. Needless to say, I was the one player at the table that nobody wanted to mess with. If I wasn't out playing my opponents, I was out flopping them.
Of course, other than getting lucky, you have to get your opponents to lay down the best hand every now and then to be a winner. This was where my table image really came into play. I picked up A-10 in late position after some limpers, so I raised the pot to $12. I was surprised to get 4 callers, but that is somewhat typical for the no limit game I play in. The flop came 10-8-5 rainbow. I liked the flop--I had top pair with top kicker. The action that followed was quite interesting. The first player to act led out for another $12--less than one fourth of the pot. I read this bet as weak and put him on some kind of straight draw or a pair of 8s. Hands like 9-7 and J-8 and J-9 came to mind. One player folded and then another player raised to $35. This was the same player that I made a flush on earlier. I knew that this player had seen all of my good fortune that night. This player was also a good enough player to lay down medium strength hands. I also figured that he was tilting a bit after losing over $400 by my estimate. I reraised to $100. The initial better quickly folded and my victim was clearly frustrated. He flashed the 8c-5c and threw his hand into the muck. My hand quickly followed and I took down a nice pot. I don't know what my other opponents held, but I'm sure that this player got priced into the pot with a suited connector. I don't mind his call that much as there were several donkeys at the table. However, I knew my image and reputation from prior hands made him fold (reraising to $100 doesn't hurt either). I was asked if I held a set of 10s. I lied and said that I had flopped a set of 10s again (that was my set from earlier in the session). I guess the moral from this story is to not be afraid to exploit your table image and put your opponents to the test when you have a big stack.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Playing the Player
Poker is not always about the hand you hold or the hand your opponent might hold. Sometimes, you just have to get inside a player's mind and try to figure out what they are thinking. Once you have done that, the cards are pretty much meaningless. I was in one of my regular $1/$2 no limit hold 'em sessions when I picked up A-A in middle position. I raised to $10 and got two callers. One of my callers was a young aggressive player on the button. This player liked to see a lot of flops and was known for playing almost any suited connector that came his way. The flop came 2-3-9, all hearts. I didn't have the ace of hearts, but I still liked my hand. I led out with a pot sized bet of $30. I didn't want anyone with a bare heart to catch up. The first caller folded and the aggressive player raised me to $100. There were a lot of hands that I could be up against with this player. I could have been up against a pair and the nut flush draw. My opponent could have flopped a set. I might be drawing real slim if I was already up against a flush. I decided to just wait for a better spot to play a big pot.
I folded my two aces face up. This is something I rarely do, but I wanted to send a message to the young kid that he shouldn't mess with me when I'm in a hand. As the dealer was pushing him the pot, he turned over 10-4 off suit with no hearts. I got bluffed and he wanted to rub it in. Maybe he was trying to get me on tilt, but he really shouldn't have shown me the bluff. I had already not given him a lot of credit when he came into a pot and this just confirmed my suspicions. We ended up playing about 3 more pots together during that session. Every time he bet, I came over the top of him. If he called the initial reraise, I was betting very strong on the next street. After all, I'm the player that can fold aces, so I must always have the nuts, right? Wrong. I was just playing the kid. Here's an example. The kid raises to $12 and I'm on the button with A-K. I reraise to $35 and get called. The flop comes 10-8-3 rainbow. The kid leads out and bets $50. I raise him all in for about $200 total. He flashes A-10 and folds. He asked if I had pocket jacks. I told him he made a good lay down (its always a good lay down for me when I win the pot with the worst hand). I made a few similar plays against him one time I actually held the nuts but by folding the aces face up, I was able to establish an image that I exploited against him later.
I folded my two aces face up. This is something I rarely do, but I wanted to send a message to the young kid that he shouldn't mess with me when I'm in a hand. As the dealer was pushing him the pot, he turned over 10-4 off suit with no hearts. I got bluffed and he wanted to rub it in. Maybe he was trying to get me on tilt, but he really shouldn't have shown me the bluff. I had already not given him a lot of credit when he came into a pot and this just confirmed my suspicions. We ended up playing about 3 more pots together during that session. Every time he bet, I came over the top of him. If he called the initial reraise, I was betting very strong on the next street. After all, I'm the player that can fold aces, so I must always have the nuts, right? Wrong. I was just playing the kid. Here's an example. The kid raises to $12 and I'm on the button with A-K. I reraise to $35 and get called. The flop comes 10-8-3 rainbow. The kid leads out and bets $50. I raise him all in for about $200 total. He flashes A-10 and folds. He asked if I had pocket jacks. I told him he made a good lay down (its always a good lay down for me when I win the pot with the worst hand). I made a few similar plays against him one time I actually held the nuts but by folding the aces face up, I was able to establish an image that I exploited against him later.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
An interesting Razz hand
Since the majority of my posts are regarding no limit hold 'em, I decided to throw a razz hand in the mix. My favorite way to play razz is heads up. I was playing a small heads up tournament on line and was dealt (A-2)-J and my opponent was showing a K. Clearly, this is a raise on 3rd street situation. Whenever my opponent is showing a K as their first up card, I will raise about 95% of the time. I'll even raise with (Q-Q)-Q. Of course, my opponent calls the raise so I reasoned that he must have two playable cards hidden (9 or lower). 4th street brought interesting cards for the both of us. I caught another jack and my opponent caught another king. Having the best hand, I led out and bet. I was surprised when my opponent raised me.
In my opinion, this is clearly a donkey move for razz. In order to have any chance at winning, my opponent would have to hit 3 more perfect cards (lower than a jack) and not pair to even have a shot at winning a show down. With my opponent so obviously weak, I was on auto pilot and was going to bet all the way down until my opponent folded. I catch a 9 on 5th street and my opponent catches an 8. I now have a 3 card draw to the nut 9 low and I figure my opponent has a decent better 3 card draw as well. I hate playing 3 card draws in heads up razz--especially after you are on 5th street. Obviously, I have a 4 card jack low which I know will beat my opponents most likely holding of a king low. I get a 4 on 6th street and my opponent catches a 4. I know I have the best hand so I bet again and get called again by the donkey. At this point, I know I don't have the best draw. I make my nut 9 on 7th street (A-2-3)-J-J-9-4. My opponent has a board that reads: (x-x-x)-K-K-8-4. Since I didn't have the best draw, my plan was to check call on the river. If this donkey was crazy enough to call bets on 5th and 6th, I don't want to get in a situation where I have to call two bets on the river with the worst hand. The only hands that would raise me on the river are hands that have me beat. I checked and my opponent bet. It really didn't matter if my opponent made his hand or not as the pot was way too big to fold the nut 9 for one more bet. My opponent revealed (5-6-7)-K-K-8-4. The worst 8. One hand better than mine.
Sometimes, horrible play gets rewarded in poker and you just have to deal with it. Of course, when you play a razz donkey like this, you get paid off all of the time when you make your monster hands. I did go on to win the heads up match, but this is certainly one of the more interesting razz hands I have ever played.
In my opinion, this is clearly a donkey move for razz. In order to have any chance at winning, my opponent would have to hit 3 more perfect cards (lower than a jack) and not pair to even have a shot at winning a show down. With my opponent so obviously weak, I was on auto pilot and was going to bet all the way down until my opponent folded. I catch a 9 on 5th street and my opponent catches an 8. I now have a 3 card draw to the nut 9 low and I figure my opponent has a decent better 3 card draw as well. I hate playing 3 card draws in heads up razz--especially after you are on 5th street. Obviously, I have a 4 card jack low which I know will beat my opponents most likely holding of a king low. I get a 4 on 6th street and my opponent catches a 4. I know I have the best hand so I bet again and get called again by the donkey. At this point, I know I don't have the best draw. I make my nut 9 on 7th street (A-2-3)-J-J-9-4. My opponent has a board that reads: (x-x-x)-K-K-8-4. Since I didn't have the best draw, my plan was to check call on the river. If this donkey was crazy enough to call bets on 5th and 6th, I don't want to get in a situation where I have to call two bets on the river with the worst hand. The only hands that would raise me on the river are hands that have me beat. I checked and my opponent bet. It really didn't matter if my opponent made his hand or not as the pot was way too big to fold the nut 9 for one more bet. My opponent revealed (5-6-7)-K-K-8-4. The worst 8. One hand better than mine.
Sometimes, horrible play gets rewarded in poker and you just have to deal with it. Of course, when you play a razz donkey like this, you get paid off all of the time when you make your monster hands. I did go on to win the heads up match, but this is certainly one of the more interesting razz hands I have ever played.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Royal Flush
As the title suggests, I made my first Royal in early 2006. I was playing in my usual $1/$2 no limit hold 'em game and picked up Kd-10d in the big blind. There were several limpers in the pot, so I was more than happy to see a cheap flop. I liked the flop I saw: Ad-Jd-2d. I flopped the nuts with a royal redraw. I checked, another player bet $20 and I smooth called the bet. The turn brought the Qd. Yep, I hit it on the turn. I played it cool and checked it again and my opponent checked behind me. The river was a blank. I made a value bet of $20 and got paid off. I was surprised to see my opponent turn over 3d-5d. If the 4d hit on the river, we would have hit the bad beat with my royal flush beating his steel wheel.
A horrible beat
While I'm not a big fan of everyone's bad beat stories, I had to share this one. After all, this is my blog and I'll post about what ever I want to. Anyway, back in late 2005, I was crushing a small stakes online NL Hold 'Em game. The blinds were $0.50/$1.00 and I had taken my $50 buy in up to about $250. I had everyone at the table out chipped except for one player who was up to about $400. I find A-A in early position and made my standard raise of 3.5x BB to $3.50. After one caller the big stack raises me to $7. This raise seemed weak--perhaps going for an isolation move with A-K. Knowing that I had the best hand, I reraised to $20. This prompted the caller to fold and the action was now back on the big stack.
The big stack reraised me again making it $40 to go. I now knew I was up against A-A or K-K. Since I held two of the four aces, I figured it was most likely K-K and that I might be able to double through this player. I decided that I would push all in at this point. I'm either a 4-1 favorite or have a split pot situation. A series of small reraises from the big stack also indicated to me that I was up against a big pair. Sure enough, I get called instantly. I had the two red aces and my opponent had the two black ones. Since this is a bad beat story, I'm sure you know what happens next. The flop came all black cards with two spades. The turn was a spade. The river was a spade. I got flushed. I played a big pot with the only player that could bust me and I held the only hand that I would not fold preflop. Such a beat does not happen often. I decided to not rebuy back into the game and take a break after such a beat. As they say: "That's poker."
The big stack reraised me again making it $40 to go. I now knew I was up against A-A or K-K. Since I held two of the four aces, I figured it was most likely K-K and that I might be able to double through this player. I decided that I would push all in at this point. I'm either a 4-1 favorite or have a split pot situation. A series of small reraises from the big stack also indicated to me that I was up against a big pair. Sure enough, I get called instantly. I had the two red aces and my opponent had the two black ones. Since this is a bad beat story, I'm sure you know what happens next. The flop came all black cards with two spades. The turn was a spade. The river was a spade. I got flushed. I played a big pot with the only player that could bust me and I held the only hand that I would not fold preflop. Such a beat does not happen often. I decided to not rebuy back into the game and take a break after such a beat. As they say: "That's poker."
Friday, February 16, 2007
No Limit 2-7 Single Draw
So I figured it was about time to add a post about a game that doesn't get played too often these days. I got some friends together and we played a small 2-7 single draw tournament. There is usually just one of these tournaments each year. However, that tournament is at the World Series of Poker and features one of the most difficult fields one would ever want to face. It also is a $5,000 buy in with rebuys. Whether you're playing triple draw or single draw, position is vitally important in draw poker much more so than in other games. Because you do not have any community cards being able to act last is a huge advantage. I took advantage of my position against a tight player. I was on the button and looked down to see the A-A-K-K-Q. This is a great hand in most poker games, but not when you play lowball. In fact, this is almost an automatic fold in any circumstance. However, I felt a bit frisky and wanted to run a bluff.
I raised before the draw. I made my standard pot sized raise as I was doing with hands like a made 9 or 10 or draws to an 8 or 7. I get called by a tight player. Obviously, I know my hand is no good. My plan was to stand pat if my opponent drew a card and to draw one if my opponent stood pat. This strategy might appear to be odd to a novice draw poker player. If my opponent is drawing, I want to give the appearance that I was dealt a good hand before the draw and I don't need to improve my hand to win the pot. A made J low is about even money against a one card draw. Ideally, I'm hoping that my opponent draws and pairs up and has to fold his hand.
If my opponent stood pat, I know I would get called after the draw if I remained pat as well. Therefore, I want to draw one card to make it seem like I'm drawing to an 8 or 7. That way, when my opponent bets after the draw, I can raise and try and win the pot there. Of course, I know that I have no chance of winning the pot in any kind of show down. I'm just trying to utilize my position and a slightly bigger stack to win the pot. My opponent ended up drawing one card--I put him on a 10 draw at worst (probably a 9). I stood pat as I had planned. After the draw, my opponent led out with a bet about half of the size of the pot. To me this felt like a value bet on a marginal hand. I figured that my opponent just made his hand, but it wasn't a good one (maybe a 9-8 or 9-7). I decided to raise. Of course, I could always just fold if I knew that any raise I made would get called, but I made a fairly healthy raise (about 5 times what my opponent bet at me). My opponent went into the tank for a while and eventually mucked his hand. I knew he had the winner, but I opted to not show my "monster" hand to the table. You really don't want your opponents to know what you are capable of in a game like this so I would rarely show my cards.
I raised before the draw. I made my standard pot sized raise as I was doing with hands like a made 9 or 10 or draws to an 8 or 7. I get called by a tight player. Obviously, I know my hand is no good. My plan was to stand pat if my opponent drew a card and to draw one if my opponent stood pat. This strategy might appear to be odd to a novice draw poker player. If my opponent is drawing, I want to give the appearance that I was dealt a good hand before the draw and I don't need to improve my hand to win the pot. A made J low is about even money against a one card draw. Ideally, I'm hoping that my opponent draws and pairs up and has to fold his hand.
If my opponent stood pat, I know I would get called after the draw if I remained pat as well. Therefore, I want to draw one card to make it seem like I'm drawing to an 8 or 7. That way, when my opponent bets after the draw, I can raise and try and win the pot there. Of course, I know that I have no chance of winning the pot in any kind of show down. I'm just trying to utilize my position and a slightly bigger stack to win the pot. My opponent ended up drawing one card--I put him on a 10 draw at worst (probably a 9). I stood pat as I had planned. After the draw, my opponent led out with a bet about half of the size of the pot. To me this felt like a value bet on a marginal hand. I figured that my opponent just made his hand, but it wasn't a good one (maybe a 9-8 or 9-7). I decided to raise. Of course, I could always just fold if I knew that any raise I made would get called, but I made a fairly healthy raise (about 5 times what my opponent bet at me). My opponent went into the tank for a while and eventually mucked his hand. I knew he had the winner, but I opted to not show my "monster" hand to the table. You really don't want your opponents to know what you are capable of in a game like this so I would rarely show my cards.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A Changing Online World
So if you follow poker much you are probably aware of the recent legislation passed that makes it difficult to fund your online poker account. While there are still ways to get this done, I have found that some of the better players are gravitating toward cheaper games to prevent their online accounts from drying up. This means that there is better competition at the lower limits as I'm sure a lot of the low limit fish have lost all of their money in their online accounts. There are still a few fish out there, it is just a bit harder to find them. Hopefully, the online poker businesses can become regulated like real casinos.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
The Stud Games
Around the beginning of 2006, I started to play some more stud games. While my stud game isn't the best, I probably play a better Stud 8/b and Razz game than just stud high. This is most likely due to my tight style of play and playing ignorant opponents more than anything else. I found some success online with these games as they are not spread too often in my local casino Occasionally, there will be a spread limit $2-$10 stud 8/b game going, but I don't like the spread limit betting structure too much. I would much rather play a fixed limit $5/$10 game with a $1 ante and a $2 bring in. I finished second in a small buy in stud 8/b and second again in another small buy in razz tournament. I felt confident in my play in these games--especially razz.
Razz is lowball variant of seven card stud. I think the simplicity of the game creates a lot of bad players just like in hold 'em. However, there are a lot of things you should consider every time you play razz. Razz is probably the easiest game in which you are playing your opponent's hand and not your own. I would recommend reading Skalansky on Razz for further study. I found I could easily exploit my razz knowledge via heads up matches. I probably win 2 for every 1 that I lose, so I have a pretty good long term idea that I can beat razz. Occasionally, I'll run into a total donkey that must think we're playing stud and make an amazing draw out. I had an opponent with K-K showing on 4th street raise me and managed to make an 8 low to beat my made 9 low on 5th street.
Razz is lowball variant of seven card stud. I think the simplicity of the game creates a lot of bad players just like in hold 'em. However, there are a lot of things you should consider every time you play razz. Razz is probably the easiest game in which you are playing your opponent's hand and not your own. I would recommend reading Skalansky on Razz for further study. I found I could easily exploit my razz knowledge via heads up matches. I probably win 2 for every 1 that I lose, so I have a pretty good long term idea that I can beat razz. Occasionally, I'll run into a total donkey that must think we're playing stud and make an amazing draw out. I had an opponent with K-K showing on 4th street raise me and managed to make an 8 low to beat my made 9 low on 5th street.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Other Games at the Casino
While I am primarily a $1/$2 no limit hold 'em player, I would occasionally, play in other games when spread by my local casino. After a good few hours of $1/$2 and up about $200, I moved to a $5/$10 limit omaha 8/b game that was starting. I made the amateur mistake of playing too many hands, but I enjoyed the variety from hold 'em. I could have played better but I ended the omaha 8/b session a small loser.
I also took a couple stabs at playing $1/$2 pot limit omaha. I quickly learned that pot limit games can be more expensive than no limit games. I ended one session a small loser and had small wins in a couple of others. It is a lot harder to bluff in pot limit omaha, but if you have a big hand and your opponent has a big draw, all of the money usually will get in the middle. It is also difficult when you flop the nut straight and have no redraw and your opponent has the same straight but has redraws. I couldn't fold my hand as I held the nuts, but I ended up getting beat by a flush by the time the river card hit.
I also revisited the $1-$5 stud game late in 2005. I decided that it probably was not worth playing anymore for a profit as too many players chase draws and the rake is high relative to the pot size. It also doesn't help when you continually run into disguised big hands. I had a couple of losing sessions in that time period. While I enjoy the "other" games, I know that the most money to be won is at no limit hold 'em. Since I play that game the most, I would have to say that it is my best game. However, I am always trying to make myself a good all around poker player.
I also took a couple stabs at playing $1/$2 pot limit omaha. I quickly learned that pot limit games can be more expensive than no limit games. I ended one session a small loser and had small wins in a couple of others. It is a lot harder to bluff in pot limit omaha, but if you have a big hand and your opponent has a big draw, all of the money usually will get in the middle. It is also difficult when you flop the nut straight and have no redraw and your opponent has the same straight but has redraws. I couldn't fold my hand as I held the nuts, but I ended up getting beat by a flush by the time the river card hit.
I also revisited the $1-$5 stud game late in 2005. I decided that it probably was not worth playing anymore for a profit as too many players chase draws and the rake is high relative to the pot size. It also doesn't help when you continually run into disguised big hands. I had a couple of losing sessions in that time period. While I enjoy the "other" games, I know that the most money to be won is at no limit hold 'em. Since I play that game the most, I would have to say that it is my best game. However, I am always trying to make myself a good all around poker player.
Online Play
I was a bit behind the online poker boom as I was just a bit too lazy in setting up a way to fund my account with real money. I had played for free on several of the big name sites and had fun while getting an opportunity to see a lot of hands. I had some early success with sit-n-gos--winning the first one I ever played and coming in 2nd in the next one. I gravitated toward the cash games and realized that the play is totally different than what I encountered in the casino. Perhaps, I just tend to run bad on line and better when I play live, but I have not had the best results online as I have live. I realized that I probably should to stick to playing tournaments as it is very difficult to beat a table full of donkeys.
I had some tournament success and got deep in a few no limit hold 'em tournaments (I was proud of getting away from J-J preflop early in a tournament after facing a reraise). I also had a cash in a 50+ player omaha 8/b tournament. With everyone playing hold 'em these days, I figured that I might have a better chance if I played games other than hold 'em. That was when I found pot limit omaha. A lot of good hold 'em players do not know how to play the other games well and I found it to be profitable. Now, I wasn't playing for big money online. In fact, my usual game for along time was .25/.5 pot limit omaha. I incorporated a tight strategy and only chased nut draws. I would beat this game on a fairly regular basis, but after taking a few stabs at bigger omaha games, I know that I still need to refine my game.
I had some tournament success and got deep in a few no limit hold 'em tournaments (I was proud of getting away from J-J preflop early in a tournament after facing a reraise). I also had a cash in a 50+ player omaha 8/b tournament. With everyone playing hold 'em these days, I figured that I might have a better chance if I played games other than hold 'em. That was when I found pot limit omaha. A lot of good hold 'em players do not know how to play the other games well and I found it to be profitable. Now, I wasn't playing for big money online. In fact, my usual game for along time was .25/.5 pot limit omaha. I incorporated a tight strategy and only chased nut draws. I would beat this game on a fairly regular basis, but after taking a few stabs at bigger omaha games, I know that I still need to refine my game.
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