Bluffing Omaha8 Hands
Bluffing in during an Omaha8 game is rarely a safe play. There are many pitfalls.
Novice players tend to hang in the pot too long. Micro stake games are often filled with serial callers which reduces your chances of completing a successful bluff.
You need to bluff occasionally to stay ahead of the blinds, especially critical in tournament situations where the blinds are incremented.
There are good bluffing opportunities. As with most forms of poker, bluffing is more likely to be successful when you're in a shorthanded position.
Generally players focus more on the low pot. If a high flop lands, often you can often throw in a raise and win the pot, there and then. You're more likely to steal when you're playing from an early position.
The more players in the pot, the more likely they will have landed a strong hand so keep bluffs for shorthanded games. If you're re-raised, someone either noticed you tendency to bluff these pots and wants to test your strength or they do have a powerful hand.
Bluffing against certain Player types
To gauge bluffing opportunities, take a note your opponents playing styles.
Tight players are easily pushed off a hand. They tend to play only when they are in a leading position. They don't take many chances and guard their bankrolls with their lives. These are the best types of players to bluff against.
Calling stations will often hang in the hand until the last card. Many are just action junkies. They overplay their quarter share pots. They get caught out regularly with the second best hand. Consider them your own personal ATM machine but never try to bluff him or you are in for a roller coaster ride. Bluffing is not a safe move against a serial caller unless you enjoy playing bingo.
Strong players understand community cards and table positions which produce bluffing opportunities. They may take this opportunity to reraise you with nothing in their hand. You'll then continue betting to maintain the illusion of strength, call, or simply fold allowing them a psychological edge.
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Bluffing Opportunities
The best way to work on your bluffing is to practice it at the tables. If you're at the play money tables or micro limits, often it is a waste of time. You'll get called regardless of what you have.
Find a game where the opposition understand Omaha hi/lo and its outcomes.
Practice bluffing against certain players in certain situations. You may find a tight player will defend his blind strongly so the attempted bluff will probably fail. Other tight players may fold their blinds against a raise.
Calculate profits/losses for these hands collectively. You don't want to win 70 small pots only to lose 30 large ones, it may look good on your stats but can drain your bankroll.
Analyze players and their betting patterns. Note how they have previously dealt with these flops.
Always be aware a player may have landed his hand. A typical Omaha8 game will produce far more high ranking hands texas holdem.
Don't be afraid to back away from a bluff. Consider it a feeler bet and you just felt the heat. Avoid playing against odds just because you've already invested chips in the pot. This is a sure way to slowly drain away your cash.
Use your bluffing opportunities conservatively and you'll have more chance of success against observant opponents.
Mix up your play and keep your opponents guessing. Practice situational bluffs and eventually you will get a better feel for what you can get away with.
Omaha8 often boils down to simple calculations of your cards potential for winning a share or all of the pot. By bluffing you're manipulating the pot size and portraying power.