I've dabbled in LO/8 the last year or so. My bread and butter is online 6max LHE and I consider myself adept at LHE blind defense/HU situations. I'm trying to apply my LHE knowledge to HU situations in LO/8, and I'd like to get some thoughts on this hand.

Villain is 64/9 over 22 hands. No notes.

Pre-flop blind defense seems fine to me. What things should I be considering, however, when choosing hands to defend with here against a tight (albeit a miniscule sample) opener?

On the flop, how well does this flop hit us? Really well? Decently? Not so good with our three paired and low draws for villain? What should I consider when evaluating flops heads up?


Merge - $0.50/$1 Hi/Lo - Omaha Hi/Lo - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: $27.70
UTG+1: $23.86
MP: $26.60
MP+1: $26.72
CO: $15.25
BTN: $35.45
SB: $19.25
Hero (BB): $49.94

SB posts SB $0.25, Hero posts BB $0.50

Pre Flop: (pot: $0.75) Hero has A 3 9 8

fold, UTG+1 raises to $1.00, fold, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.25, 2 players) 2 3 9
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $0.50, Hero...?

I like it so far...

O.K
yes, definitely call.
HU, O8 hands run very close in equity.
Unless the opener has an obvious skill edge over you, you should probably defend anything which is even marginally playable (for example, ace+a wheel card is enough, unless it's horrible like A955ns).
If you're a good shorthanded poker player and want to improve, you should look for situations to defend, IMO.

well enough. see, if 4 players took the flop, you'd have a tough decision, as you're out of position and 9's up + 8 low draw is rarely worth much unless you can thin the field.
heads up, you should definitely be playing it.


check/value-raise, bet the turn... check/call, check turn is an alternative line, which i'd probably take unless I had the low draw. it's a crappy low draw, but adds enough value to your hand heads up.