An Offbeat Hand

After an untimely exit from a no-limit hold'em tournament, I was seeking consolation and further enlightenment in a $5-$10 Omaha high-low game with a kill. In late position, with five players already in the pot, I pick up K 5 4 2. Is this a good calling hand in a loose Omaha high-low game?

Although I suspected that this hand might be even less than marginal in a good game, I was feeling adventurous and strongly suspected that this hand was probably better than the hands some of the callers were playing. So, I called. (Several days later, I ran the hand on Mike Caro's Poker Probe against five other random players, winning about 21 percent of the time – which tends to indicate that the hand is somewhat better than marginal.)

I was immediately sorry I had played, as the button raised before the flop and the player in second position reraised. Although I realized that it would probably get capped out (the button raiser would probably make the third raise, and there was a three-raise limit in effect), I would not confess error (if indeed I had erred by initially calling). So, I put my $10 in and, sure enough, the button reraised and it cost me yet another $5.

So, there we all were, seven-way action and $140 in the pot. The first card of the flop was the A, an unexpected ace (I thought it was unlikely that there were any left in the deck), but the next two cards were a queen and a 6, all different suits.

Apparently, no one really liked the flop, because it was checked around to me. Although I did not have a whole lot, I suspected that if I bet, the button in back of me might raise, thereby pressuring the other five callers.

Sure enough, the button raised my bet and three of the callers folded. Obviously, I just called, since all I had was "potential." If you could call for any card to come on the turn with this hand and flop, what card would you call for?

The 3 hit the turn, giving me an unbreakable low (I had the nut low regardless of the last card) and the nut-flush draw. By the way, if you ever play a hand like this, I can't promise that you will catch an ace and a 3. Remember that I prefaced things by expressing doubt about playing this sort of hand.

OK, here's your final "poker" challenge. The first two players check around to me. What should I do? Bet? Do you understand the problem here?

If I bet, it might get called by the button, and I probably will get one or two callers. If the button raises, I might find myself heads up with him.

But if I check, there is about a 2-to-1 or 3-to-1 chance that the button will bet and I'll get the same one or two callers. Then, my check-raise will probably get considerably more money into the pot, and I might even get a chance to cap it. The times that the button checks (and spoils my fun) are easily more than offset by the potential gain of the check-raise. So, I checked, he bet, the other two players called, I raised, and all three called. OK – but it could have been better!

A happy ending? You bet! Although a heart would have given me three-quarters of this giant pot, a 4 on the river gave me the whole pot! The button, who had started with A-2-4, succumbed to my 5-2, as did the set of queens.

Yes, I was very lucky. But, when you play three prime low cards (ace through 5), there are lots of ways to get lucky.