The game is $8/$16 Omaha 8 with a half kill at The Orleans. I'm a tourist in this game; as far as I can tell, most of the other players are regulars.
In this hand, I’m the killer on the button. Two players limp, the blinds both complete, and I check my option with KJ93 (K
3
).
The flop comes AQT with two diamonds and one heart. SB checks; BB bets. He’s an OMC, so his range is fairly narrow in this spot (and will be clearly defined on the turn): most likely KJxx, maybe a set or some combo draw like top two pair plus the nut flush draw. An EP player calls, a MP player folds, I call, and the SB calls.
I have the nuts but it’s vulnerable, so I don’t want to raise just yet. I want to see the turn and reevaluate at that point. However, I’m wondering if I should just fold here. My only redraw is back-door hearts. If I’m up against another straight, the best-case scenario is that I win half or maybe only a quarter of the pot (if the back-door low draw gets there). And my reverse implied odds are high—I could put money in on multiple streets only to get beaten on the river.
The turn is a black 3. SB checks; BB bets. The EP player, who seems to be a solid reg, calls fairly quickly. At this point I put in a raise. I’m hoping to knock out at least one of the players who’s on a draw, to increase my equity.
The SB, who is the youngest and most loose, aggressive player in the game, tanks for a bit. He’s clearly not happy about having to call a double bet, but eventually he does. I assume that a player with top set or the nut flush draw is never folding in this spot, so I figure the SB has some combo draw that’s worse than those holdings.
I’m hoping the BB will reraise to put pressure on the EP player. But the BB looks visibly uncomfortable and makes a crying call. The EP player calls as well (no surprise there). So my turn raise didn’t get anyone to fold.
The river is another black 3, for a final board of AQT33 rainbow. Everyone checks to me. I block some full house combos with my 3, but I’m disgusted by what happened on the turn and convinced that a bet on this street would never get called by worse. So I turn over my hand. The SB mucks, the BB has the same straight, and the EP player shows A345 (I think with two small diamonds, which would explain his call on the flop), so he has a full house and scoops a monster pot.
If I hadn’t raised the turn, I assume I would’ve lost a single bet on the river (if the EP player had bet his full house, I would’ve made a crying call, and if everyone had checked to me, I probably would’ve bet). But I’m curious to know if you would’ve played any street differently.
All comments appreciated.