Just in case someone here isn't reading my journal religiously I'd like some feedback on two big hands I played today.

The game was PLO8 5-max with a big blind of $.40 and a max buyin of $80. I haven't played much PLO8 shorthanded before, only when a FR table has been forming or breaking up, and as you may or may not know PLO8 is not my best game although I am a winning player up to at least the $100 levels at full ring.

I've been playing TAG and punding the later streets forcing them to fold a lot. My image should be aggressive. The average player here is loose and passive so I am breaking the trend by raising and betting when I am in the pots. I think I am playing well but the others may view me as too aggro since they're very passive and like to go to showdown to split the pots.

Hand #1

I'm UTG with 2357 double suited. In my opinion, this is a marginal hand full ring but a monster shorthanded. In full ring games it's horrible to make a non-nut two-way hand since you'll often be up against the nuts one way, but at a 5-handed table the nuts is out much more rarely so a hand like this has some reallly good scoop potential where a 23 low and 7 high flush can easily get all the loot.

So I raise to 6 (this is like $1) UTG with my [3h][5h][7d]. One guy is sitting out, but Button and SB both call so pot is 20.

Flop comes [4d][6s] giving me a 7-high flush draw, wrap and 3:d nut low draw. Ie: a monster.

SB checks, I bet 14 and both call. I started with ~300 and they have about the same, so we're semi-deep at ~150bb.

Turn is the giving me the nut low with some counterfeit protection and even more straight outs. Checked to me again by SB and I fire 54, building the pot enough to be all-in by the river but not quite the max (pot was ~62). Both call again.

River is the which gives me nut/nut. Sb now flat pushes into me. I have him covered by like 15sek but decide to just flat call to entice the guy behind me to overcall.



Hand #2

This time against the guy who folded on the turn in the last hand. He has ~240 and I of course have him easily covered. Two players are sitting otu so we're in effect 3-handed.

I'm in the SB with [6h][7s][Th], button folds and I complete. Not a premium hand by any means but it is double suited, contains an ace, has some straight potential and some emergency low potential with the A67 combo. Villain checks in the BB.

Flop comes [9d][3h] giving me a sneaky double gutshot (both to the nuts), crap lowdraw and two backdoor flush draws.

I lead out for pot which is 4 obviously. Villain miniraises me.

Ok, I'm not going to fold this hand but I don't want to escalate my semi-promising but still marginal hand out of position against a full stack+ who is probably sick of me and willing to make a stand. So I call to see a turn.

Turn is a beautiful giving me the nut straight AND the nut flush re-draw, as well as making me a crap A3568 low which may or may not be good. Still, I find these guys tend to play their highs faster than their lows so hopefully he's going high.

I check, he makes a lame bet of 10 into the 20 pot, and I promptly check/raise max to 50. He calls without hesitation (as I said, they probably have me pegged as over aggressive). River is the changing nothing and I bet full pot 120sek.

Hand #1

Perfect.

Hand #2

Perfect.

I like them both; I'd probably just put the rest in on hand 1 but it would depend a bit on stack sizes and how the two folks have been playing. If you can get much of a raise in on the bettor then it's definitely best to do so.

Ok, well thanks for the feedback. Now I'm actually thinking I might be better at PLO8 shorthanded than FR. GJ sycophants.