I was playing in a $20-$40 mix game at Wynn recently where an interesting hand came up in Big O8.
The structure of this game is identical to fixed-limit Omaha eight-or-better (O8), with the only change being that each player is dealt five cards instead of four. Because of that extra hole card, it makes qualifying lows a bit more common since players have more cards in their hand to counteract duplications.
Additionally, the average hand strength is a bit stronger than is typical in traditional limit O8 since players will have on average more powerful holdings. This brings me to a recent hand I played with an experienced opponent who has multiple millions in tournament cashes.
I was on the button as we played seven-handed, and the second player to act limped in. I looked down at a rather mediocre holding of Q-J-J-10-7, and assessed the situation.
The limper was an unintimidating player who figured to have a wide range that could contain anything from weak A-2 or A-3 combinations to a big pair. Also though my holding was weak, it did have the advantage that if it were to connect strongly with the board, it would tend to be on boards which I likely scoop. (Any time a player makes a set with pairs 9-9 through K-K in O8, it is far less likely to be split since it guarantees a high card on the board).
Additionally, there was $20 from the limp, and $20 and $10 in the blinds, so the pot had $50 and was laying me a decent price of 2.5:1. Given that and my positional advantage for the rest of the hand, I elected to call.
The small blind completed, and the tournament crusher in the big blind unfortunately raised. Everyone called, and we took the flop four ways. It came down 9-8-8 with two hearts giving me a wrap.
This was a tricky flop since my hand did have some value with the nut straight draw, but it was extremely dangerous since the board was already paired and also contains a flush draw which I don’t have. Of course, my best card would be a Jack giving me the nut boat, but I make a straight with a 6, 7, 10 or Queen as well. As such I have 12 straight outs (three of which also complete a flush), and two outs to boat. If nobody were to have an 8, I would only have 11 outs to a hand that would have some real power to it.
Also noteworthy, if a player did have an 8, my straight cards would be in the same neighborhood making it a bit more likely for them to have improved to a boat, since people prefer to play hands with connected rundowns.
So, I was curious what would happen next.
All three players in front of me checked, and none of them seemed too impressed with their holdings. As such, I bet $20 when it got to me. The small blind folded, big blind called, and the other limper folded now making the pot $200.
The turn was the K♥ completing the flush on board. The big blind again checked.
Although it’s bad for me that the heart draw completed, being a King, it at least guaranteed there will be no low which is better for my range than my opponent who raised preflop out of the big blind. He probably never has an 8 as played, and will only have a hand worth continuing when he makes a flush on the turn.
I comprised his range as a blend of flushes, overpairs, backdoor low draws, and perhaps some straight draws such as 7-6 or 6-5. Given all of that, if I bet again he is likely only continuing when he has a flush, and will probably fold all other holdings.
Since the bet is $40 and the pot is $200, I am getting 5:1 on the play making it well profitable if my read on the situation is correct.
I elected to fire, and my opponent disappointedly tabled A-A-2-3-x with the naked A♥ as he mucked.
It felt good to see a hand hit the muck that I would have only been 36% to win against, and those spots can be found in limit poker by assessing ranges and board textures accurately.
Mark Mazmanian has been a mixed-game specialist for more than two decades playing in games all over the country. The Las Vegas resident can be reached on Instagram @maztastic1 or by email at [email protected].
