Slow Playing Omaha8 Hands

In Texas Holdem, many novice player make the mistake of slow playing pocket AA. They let too many players into the pot. Someone catches 2 pair, with a couple of rags. They run back to the message board claiming the game is rigged, and how they lose with the best hand in the world, ever!!!

I will hold back from going on a rant about poorly played AA in holdem, but it highlights the fact that if you let too many people into the pot cheaply, don't cry into your beer tomorrow night when you are reciting your, "the game is rigged story", for the sixth week in a row. Poker has an element of luck involved but many of the bad beat stories can be avoided.

Slow playing is a dangerous tactic in any community card game. A slow played Omaha hi/low hand is even more dangerous than in holdem due to the increase in variables.

Rule number one of slow playing

"Never give your opponents a free card."

In Omaha high/low there are very few safe hands that can merit slow playing. You may have the nut high but by slow playing, you may allow players on a low draw into the pot.

Examples :

Hole Cards : A-2-5-J
Flop : J-J-5

Do not slow play this because although you have the nut high and the nut low draw, the game can turn on its head for you. 8-9-10-Q-K can let someone in with rags to land the high straight, and possibly scooping the pot from under your nose.

Hole Cards : 8-8-6-A
Flop : 8-8-5

Do not slow play this. You have the nut high and it is unlikely to be beaten, but by slow playing, you are letting players in for a cheap claim on the low pot. That is potentially half of your pot gone.

Hole Cards : K-K-10-9
Flop : K-K-10

You can slow play this. You have a great hand with no possible low hand available. its still a beatable hand but if you can keep players to catch their full house, you may win a few extra bets

I wouldn't recommend slow playing at Omaha8 as a general rule. That strategy is doomed to failure, but if you are playing from the early position against aggressive players, feel free to sit back and let them push the pot for you. When the betting comes back around to you, make sure you stamp your authority on the hand.

Just remember to stick to the cast iron rule.

"Never give your opposition a free card unless they are drawing dead."

 

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