And Fun - Part II

In my last column, the first of the final three hands from an online pot-limit Omaha high-low tournament was discussed. I had been the chip leader for most of the final table, and had that feeling that it was my fate to win – but not without a few moans, groans, and laughs.

With two of us left and the chip counts about even at approximately $170,000 each, I was in the $3,000 small blind. I picked up an A-3-4-5, which would be great in a loose Omaha high-low game, and also good enough to raise with here when heads up. So, I raised $10,000, making it $16,000 to play. My opponent called instantly.

The flop came K 9 6 (I had the A 5.) He led with a $10,000 bet. This was slightly atypical of him, since he was usually very aggressive and often bet the pot – which would have been a $32,000 bet here. What would you do?

Obviously, two high cards in the flop was not what I had in mind, and I didn't like it. Also, it appeared to me that he was trying to suck me in with an uncharacteristic small bet. But, $10,000 seemed to be a bargain, and I decided to "take one off" (which is on my list of famous last words). The 2 turned. Note how the deuce and 6 on the board fit spectacularly well with my A-3-4-5.

This time, he bet the whole pot, $52,000. I was officially sucked in. Now, we each had some $78,000 in the pot. Any low card other than a deuce or 6 would do, but a 3, 4, or 5 would probably give me the whole pot. Bingo – the 4u rivered. Of course, I was about to go all in (for about $95,000), but he went all in ahead of me!

He showed the K 3 6 5. So, we both had the magic 5-3 for high. But, I also had the ace, which gave me the low, so I ended up winning three-fourths of the pot. Note that if he had bet the pot after the flop ($32,000 with kings up and a flush draw), I would not have been able to call.

Before the flop, my hand was about a 5-3 favorite over his (according to Caro's Poker Probe).

The very next hand, before I even looked at my cards, he raised the pot before the flop, making it $18,000 to go. I looked at my cards, which were the A J, a queen, and a 7. What would you do in this position?

Now that I had more than three-fourths of the chips, I would still have the chip lead even if he went all in and I lost. Therefore, there was much to be said for trying to get him all in as soon as I was better than 50-50. Since my high-card hand with an emergency low rated to be a slight favorite over most hands that he would have, I reraised the whole pot ($36,000), which made it a total of $54,000 each to play.

He took some time to think about it, then reraised all in with his remaining $30,000. I called. He showed K 3, a deuce, and a 10. Before the flop, I was a slight favorite (52.5-47.5).

The flop came 7-4-3 rainbow. I had the higher pair and a better low draw. The turn card was the 8. He made a "live deuce" low, but I had a "live ace" low. At this point, I was a 7-1 favorite. Could he river another miracle as he had done on the hand discussed in the last issue?

The river card was a 10, and I briefly thought his two pair had salvaged high and we had split yet again. But then all of the chips were pushed to me. The 10 was the 10, and I had made a flush.

There is obviously some skill required in Omaha high-low (but not nearly as much as in pot-limit Omaha high), but there is also a huge luck factor. However, as any Omaholic will tell you, Omaha high-low is undeniably entertaining – and fun.

In recent months, I have received numerous e-mails asking me where I frequently play online. When I'm home (not on the road playing bridge), I often play the 9 p.m. tournament on RoyalVegasPoker and the 11 p.m. or 1 a.m. tournament on PartyPoker.