World Series of Poker

I decided to play the $1,500 Razz event at this year's WSOP. If you are a serious poker player, you should at a minimum attend the festivities. Even if you are not playing, there is plenty to do. I was not successful in cashing in the event despite a great Level 1 where I was among the chip leaders. I get back to around my starting stack level after getting coolered with a 7 low running into a 6 low. However, it was one interesting pot that I played that crippled me and I'm still trying to figure out my opponents logic on this one.

It is folded to me with only 1 or 2 wheel cards dead and I have a 3 up and there are 2 players between myself and the bring in. One player is showing a 10 and one is showing a 9. I make the standard completion with my and and get called by the 9. I have my opponent covered and he is somewhat shortstacked.

3RD STREET
Me: (Q-2)-3
Opponent: (x-x)-9

I think my play is automatic and I figured my opponent was defending with a rough 9 draw, a hand like 5-7-9 or 4-8-9. I don't think defending with a 9 is that bad of a play, but at that point in the tournament, I wouldn't want to play a big pot where I started with a rough 9.

4TH STREET
Me: (Q-2)-3-8
Opponent: (x-x)-9-3

I bet on 4th and get called. We both caught a good card. Because I got called, I didn't think the 3 paired my opponent. This further confirmed my read of a rough 9 draw. I figured I can easily represent an 8 low or take the pot away on 5th if we both catch bad. This is why I bet with my hand. If my opponent put me on an 8 draw, calling with a rough 9 draw is not a good play. However, my opponent might have thought that the 8 paired me.

5TH STREET
Me: (Q-2)-3-8-J
Opponent: (x-x)-9-3-J

This is actually a good card for me as nothing has changed from 4th street. I led out representing a made J-8 low and to my surprise I got called again by my opponent. I don't know if my opponent picked up a read on me, but I had not pulled off any moves like this the entire tournament. If my opponent was going with the read that I was paired, then the call is fine, but with very few dead wheel cards out, it would appear that I held two wheel cards in the hole.

6TH STREET
Me: (Q-2)-3-8-J-J
Opponent: (x-x)-9-3-J-Q

This is where it gets interesting. Again, nothing changes on 6th street as far as the hand strength goes. I'm still representing a made J-8 low and the best my opponent can make is a 9 low. Since I'm paired my opponent has the lead. He checks to me and I bet. Then, I get check-raised and my opponent is all in. I guess my opponent wanted to gamble, but putting in a raise there just doesn't make any sense, even if he can't make a full bet on 7th. I just don't understand the raise. If he is beat, he gets called instantly. If he waits until 7th to bet, he gets called if he is beat and the J-8 low that I was representing would also have to call. However, if he checks 7th, I would likely check behind him with the J-8 low I'm trying to represent and if he hand was no good, he would still have chips.

I took a while to make the call and it was obvious that I was paired or had a high card. He thought I was paired, but was surprised when I showed the Q-2 in the hole. Of course, my opponent had a made J-9 low and I had to improve my hand.

7TH STREET
Me: (Q-2)-3-8-J-J-(Q)
Opponent: (5-7)-9-3-J-Q-(J)

My opponent turned up his 7th street card first and showed the J. That was a good sign for me as I knew I was drawing live. I needed an A, 4, 5, 6 or a 7. I didn't like seeing a dead 5 and 7 in my opponent's hand and I recalled a dead ace from another player's upcard on 3rd. That is 17 outs (assuming all cards are live). I missed and hit a Q on 7th. My Q-J low lost to a J-9 low.

I don't think I played this hand in a poor fashion. I guess the only spot where I could have gotten away from it was on 4th street when we both caught good. I can check on 4th and fold to a bet. In hindsight, that is the safer play, but I'm still surprised by my opponent's play on 5th and 6th streets on this hand.

A few hands later, I get it all in with 5-6-7 against 2-4-8. I make an 8-7 low on 5th and my opponent (same guy) makes an 8-5 low on 7th. All in all, I was happy with my play. I know I can play with the best in the world and I hope to return to the WSOP in future years.

Getting Quartered

A lot has been written about getting quartered (or worse) when you and an opponent both have the nut low in omaha 8/b. However, there is also the unfortunate situation where you and your opponent will both have the same high hand. I think this aspect of getting quartered is not given the attention that it deserves. While you are more likely to get quartered on the low half of the pot, beware of getting quartered on the high end.

This should help reiterate the fact that you need to have a hand that can play both ways when you enter a pot in omaha 8/b. Obvious exceptions are in very loose games where you are practically priced in to see the flop with any reasonable starting hand. Inexperienced players will make the fatal mistake of jamming a pot with the nut straight or top full house and think that they are a lock to win the pot. If you get a lot of action, you should slow down as you don't want to get quartered on the high. Of course, the best situation is if you have the nuts both ways; in that case, jam away.

I know this isn't any kind of new revelation, but just one of those forgotten little items that we all need to be reminded about to keep our games sharp.