Spot #1


I'll be leading trips in this spot pretty often. Is that a good hand to balance with? Got a blocker, and some equity when called, but I don't want to c/c with it. Player positions are also set up pretty well for me. Is it ok? Or should I check-raise?

PokerStars - $0.50 PL Hi (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 101.5 BB
UTG: 93.7 BB (VPIP: 57.14, PFR: 14.29, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 14)
CO: 100 BB (VPIP: 25.30, PFR: 13.08, 3Bet Preflop: 3.33, Hands: 3,179)
BTN: 105.82 BB (VPIP: 14.55, PFR: 10.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 115)
SB: 113.68 BB (VPIP: 73.49, PFR: 26.51, 3Bet Preflop: 2.70, Hands: 170)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 4 3 T A

fold, fold, BTN raises to 3 BB, SB calls 2.5 BB, Hero calls 2 BB

Flop: (9 BB, 3 players) T 8 8
SB checks, Hero bets 6.5 BB


Spot #2

Here I decided to donk but I think check-raising would have been better. I think CO will cbet a lot on this dry/light board, so there's less incentive for me to donk with either value or semi-bluffs.

PokerStars - $0.50 PL Hi (6 max) - Omaha Hi - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 198.94 BB (VPIP: 24.58, PFR: 17.84, 3Bet Preflop: 5.95, Hands: 2,124)
MP: 100 BB (VPIP: 17.39, PFR: 11.96, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 96)
CO: 96.62 BB (VPIP: 66.67, PFR: 33.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
BTN: 143.98 BB (VPIP: 29.79, PFR: 21.61, 3Bet Preflop: 8.55, Hands: 2,214)
SB: 404.3 BB (VPIP: 20.58, PFR: 14.05, 3Bet Preflop: 3.39, Hands: 727)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 4 K 5 A

fold, fold, CO raises to 3 BB, BTN calls 3 BB, SB calls 2.5 BB, Hero calls 2 BB

Flop: (12 BB, 4 players) T 2 5
SB checks, Hero bets 9.5 BB, fold, fold, fold

Hero wins 11.46 BB

Hand 2 preflop is terrible not to squeeze
Postop both hands seem fine

Should we be defending hand 1?

Imho both hands are terrible donk bets.

1st hand could be a good donkbet vs 1 villain but vs 2 no. Straight and flush and pair possibilities are very much out there. So its highest a marginal donkbet.

2nd hand.. Its just a too marginal shot to donk anything vs 3 opponents.

I would try to find my edge on the game in much more simple things.

1/I kinda like the check raise better. Works great for me. Don't need to go on the bigger side also. 2.2x is just fine and immediately profitable if btn bets sb folds and you raise. You get a fold more often than required .

2/Perfectly fine to me. I like being aggro when the board is very dry. You got a gutshot and middle pair plus 2nutty bdfd which makes you 50/50 with a naked T.
Being 4 ways just gives you more FE overall as people would be reluctant to continue with a single pair and 2 pairs aren't made too often on this board.

Pre: hand1 is a defend of course, even thinking of folding would be crazy. Hand2 I squeeze every time against pretty much everybody.

Flop: both hands are fine, although check/calling should probably be the standard for hand2. C/r is ok for hand1, for hand I think c/r would be a waste of equity.