Quote:
Originally Posted by Wasserkocher
Afterwards my question seems quite stupid to myself. With the starting hand selection I meant starting hand classification to distinguish between mediocre hands and bad hands (just by their strength)., because Im feeling very unsecure preflop.
Not a stupid question at all. Starting hands are very important. I failed to mention that the number of players at the table who are dealt cards is important. If you just look at the extremes, we're advising you to play tightly while you learn in a full game, but if you play heads-up in a cash game against an unknown opponent, you should start out playing nearly every hand, and playing and raising every hand from the small blind. Then as you learn the ways of your opponent, you adapt accordingly.
Starting hands differ, depending on the number of opponents. Simplistically, the pair of jacks in JJ** is an above average holding heads-up, but is below average in a six-handed game. All pairs below jacks are below average two-card components of starting hands in Omaha-8 regardless of the number of players. That is not to say that expert players never play hands with pairs less than jacks, but we're advising newbs to tend to avoid these hands (unless your hand has one of the starting combinations we recommend).
There's quite a bit more involved in playing heads-up than full game. For one thing, the pressure is always "on," whereas in a cash game when you're sitting out a hand, as you will be doing with most hands if you follow the advice given in this thread, you can closely observe play without being under pressure.
Your observant opponents in a full game will realize you play tightly. Watch carefully how everyone plays against other tight players, then bear that in mind when you're involved in a hand, and adapt accordingly. (That's the general idea).
You can somewhat play your cards in a full game, choosing to only enter the fracas with the best of them - and if just some of your opponents are not very good, you can do well, showing a small profit for your effort (assuming the rake is not too high for you to beat). But to be long-term successful in heads-up matches, you have to play your opponent more than your own cards.
Quote:
Another question: Preflop raises.
Am I right? The only reason to raise is the folding of other players. You shouldnt raise for value.
No.
When posting here, you get better responses if you stipulate the conditions of the game.
Heads-up, I believe raising every time from the small blind should be your default starting mode. (Then you adjust according to how your opponent reacts).
Regardless of the game size (number of opponents dealt cards), you don't want opponents playing as though they can see some of your cards. If you always raise with AA** and A2**, for example, when you do raise, you're marked for AA** or A2**, and when you don't raise, your opponent will figure you probably don't have AA** or A2**.
As another example, if you use Hutchison's system as a guide and always raise with 30 points but never raise with fewer points, then a sharp opponent will soon recognize what you're doing, will play you for a 30 point hand when you raise, and will play you for a 20-30 point hand when you don't raise.
But if there are no opponents in your game who are sharp enough to gain inferences about your hand based on whether you raise or not, then what is written in the two previous paragraphs doesn't matter, at least not as much. Under these conditions, what the heck, go ahead and raise with your good hands, with your 30 point hands or with your good AA** and A2** (etc.) hands.
If you read lots of my posts, it may seem as though I do not advocate pre-flop raising for value in Omaha-8. I suppose that's generally true. It's certainly true in a full game (or even a full six handed game) that more of my pre-flop raises are tactical than for value. In general, (1) I prefer to keep the pot size small so as to have more leverage on later betting rounds, and (2) I don't like giving capable opponents hand information.
But I think it may seem that I'm even more opposed to pre-flop raises for value than I actually am. That's because in the hand histories posted in this forum, in general players, especially from Texas hold 'em backgrounds, raise too much before the flop. (That's just my opinion. Lots of better players than I am disagree).
Whether or not it's more correct to raise than limp when playing any game depends on the particular opponents you're facing, how they play, and your position. But in general, in my humble opinion, it is more correct to raise when you enter the fracas when you're playing Texas hold 'em than when you're playing Omaha-8. (Again, just my opinion. Better players than I am disagree with me).
For example, as noted above, when you're in the small blind playing
heads-up, your default play should be to raise, to attack the big blind. The big blind will probably soon start to counter, probably often re-raising, but the small blind poster only acts first on the first betting round. After that, the big blind poster has to go first. It's a huge advantage in heads-up play to act last.
When you're raising from the small blind in a heads-up contest, it's possible your opponent won't figure out how to cope. Sklansky and Malmuth, in
Hold 'Em Poker For Advanced Players suggest that if your opponent only calls your raise one third of the time, with the best one third of his hands, you're guaranteed a profit by raising every time. I believe that principle also works for Omaha-8.
Quote:
I should start every post with "Dear Buzz", because you are answering all my questions.
I'd rather you didn't. I fear that might discourage various other posters who are actually better poker players than I am from responding in this thread. Some of those who post on this forum are pros, making a living playing and teaching poker. I'm what is called a "recreational" player. Omaha-8 is my hobby. I want the pros to feel free to chime in when they have good advice for a newb.
The intent of this thread was to have a place where newbs could have their simple, non-controversial questions about basic Omaha-8 play answered.
You're welcome.
Buzz
Last edited by Buzz; 01-14-2011 at 08:43 PM.