my friend invited me to a home game last night and I made a little money and had a ball. But toward the end of the night We got into a hand against each other in Omaha8 and he is a little pissed. I had pocket fives in my hand and a K, A of diamonds. Flop brought a five so I decided to slow play my set. I took a lot of money off him and a player to my right misread the board and said out loud that the five on the board came on the river. So my friend got all pissy and went on about what an idiot I was to have kept playing with only pocket fives. My question is this, do I owe him an honest account of the hand? I feel like if they believe that I am an idiot it is to my advantage, it has worked my whole life.

If they don't deal the board honestly (deal it in order) so that the flop, turn and river aren't obvious to someone who hasn't been paying attention then I don't see that you owe them anything. If it was dealt honest, then they are a bit thick so why explain?

Sounds to me like someone is just being pissy because they lost the hand. Would he have complained if he won the hand when you slow played your set (dangerous thing in omaha). Probably not. That is the beauty of poker, you don't have to explain yourself on why you decide to play a hand. If you are insecure and feel the need to justify how you play then by all means explain away. If they want to have an honest discussion about strategy, then explain away. Sounds to me like he is just pissed he lost the hand.

Just let him think you played it badly, admit you sucked out, and say its all in the game*.

*Yes, that is a reference to The Wire.

It's no shock that in a home game the board cards aren't politely placed ABCDE. It'd be nice if they were, but these changes take time.

The answer to your ethical question is one about your purpose in the game. If you're there to make money, and you're not going to kill the golden goose by being "that guy" then let him believe what he wants to believe. If the game has a higher social aspect, then tell him you took a shot with AK55 and you thought you hit a set on the flop and just played it out.

I'm never afraid to talk strategy with fellow players, but I usuially like to wait a day or two. It let's them calm down after a bad beat, and reasonably discuss ways they/you could have played it better (u may both learn a thing or two). It also doesn't let the other guy feel like you're rubbing it in. You may also be building momentum toward next weeks game!!!!!

thanks to all. Aiden man the WIRE was a great show. Direct TV is showing all the episodes two back to back on Sunday night. I watched all of them the last two years and am watching them again. What a great show.

If we're talking strategy here, don't slow play a set in Omaha.

FYP

FYP's

Well said

appreciate the stuff to think about.

Yep, The Wire is up there in the greatest shows of all time, imo

Poker is an emotional game. Nothing you say in your defense will help the situation. Agree unconditionally and without sarcasm, if even that. If you can't pull that off, just nod your head while you look at the floor.

Also, don't slow play sets in O8.

It's o8 so less a fh draw than a "I can't wait to get to fold the river when my middle set basically no low, no re-draw ends up like the 29th nuts for half like it's supposed to" draw.

OP never specified what the other cards on the flop were so we don't even know if a low draw was possible. If there were additional low cards you are correct. If the other 2 cards were high cards than it's basically an omaha hi hand but in this case you need to amend your comment from "middle set" to "bottom set" which actually makes this even worse.

Exactly. And with a 5 on the flop, there is ALWAYS a straight draw.

Lol. The point is a "FYP" to a fullhouse draw makes it sound strong. My, less than precise, description makes it sound more like what it is. There's no "correct" about it and "more like" signifies a lack of precision. Thanks for another solid "FYP" though.

Also, since you like being precise, the post refers to river action so "more like" bottom set isn't even a "correct" amendment.