Omaha Hi/Lo SNG

[iceman5]

OK folks. Ive been playing some limit Omaha Hi/LO recently as a change of pace. This hurts my hourly rate tremendously since Im playing low stakes, but I think there is huge profit potentil in this market if I can eventually make it to higher stakes and eventually play PL instead of limit.

Last night I played a SNG. After playing it, Im not sure Omaha HI/LO SNGs are a good idea. So many pots are split that it takes a long time to bust anyone out. It turns into a crap shoot at the end when the blinds are so high. You just have to survive and then hope you hit a big hand at the right time when the blind are big.

I was in the chip lead for most of the SNG, but when the blinds got big I missed everything several times and got short stacked.

So on to the question.

There are 4 people left. I have $910 and theres anther short stack so Im trying to outlast him. The blinds are 250/500 (500/1000 stakes)

The other short stack is in the BB. After posting he has $600 left. Im UTG so the blinds hit me next hand

I have QQ93 with a suited Q. I have no chance at a low. Is this good enough to raise and put myself all in? Or should I fold and hope the BB plays the hand and busts?

If we both try to fold our ways into the money......aftet this hand I have 910 and he has 600. Next hand I have 410 after posting the BB and he has 450 after posting the SB. Then Im in the SB and have 160. As long as he doesnt win a hand, or split one, he will be all in in his next BB.

So is my hand good enough to play or should I fold and hope he doesnt hit anything before the next BB busts him?

[briachek]

my inexperienced opinion would be to fold. QQxx is not that strong of a high hand and with no low potential, you are easily in bad shape. I think I would wait and hope the bb would give me something with a low possibly, even if its all random cards. Its too easy to make 2 pair with random cards and a low potential as a backup could keep you in the game.

I'm guessing you went all in and lost?

[Felonius_Monk]

Heads up, hands with no low and debatable high values are very poor. QQ93 is almost certain to be an underdog, regardless what your opponent has, and I guess he's almost certainly going to call, otherwise you can just fold your way into the money, so it's a tough spot. I think I'd be tempted to wait for the BB, because you're almost certain to find a better hand than QQ39. As the BB seems likely to get all in (or someone in the middle will call), you won't win this hand unchallenged. At least when your BB hits, you know you have to survive one all-in with a random hand (i.e. even equity) and chances are you'll make the money. Here, if you go all in with this, you know for sure you're getting called and will almost certainly be behind.

If you have another low card to go with that 3 then I'd say it's time to make a move. It's amazing how much more equity an O8 hand has heads up all-in with a low feature, even a really bad one - you'll escape lots of bad boards with a half pot and if you find your opponent with a high hand (even a good one like AKJT) you'll be a decent favourite.

That's my reckoning, anyhow. I guess others would say if there's any chance the BB might fold his hand that you have to risk it for the extra equity of the blinds; I just think people will almost always call you here, and I wouldn't want my last stand to be on such a ragged hand.

[iceman5]

Yeah, I put it in and lost. I go called by the big stack AND the BB. They split the pot.
The big stack didnt have much. I think it was AJ76..maybe the A was suited.

I shouldve folded I guess. Im still leaning the game. I do think I played well op to that point though.

Does anyone here play O8 SNGs? Do they always take so long to where its a crap shoot? I cant remember the last NL Hold em SNG I played where we got a break.

[bobby]

[Kuso]

[Xaston]

Shorthanded Omaha/8 rather than looking for "nut potential" like you do at full tables, you are looking more for versatility.

[Felonius_Monk]

I've had a lot of success raising like heck at the end of O8 tourneys... people who've got short stacked after only playing the premium hands have a big problem playing back with anything other than A2 or AA and so you win lots of marginal and small pots and can bully the table easier once the loose guys are out and the tighter players remain. Of course, you need to have a decent sized stack and a group of fairl passive opponents to do this but, with so many O8 hands running so close together in HU strength, I think it's a good tactic when applied sensibly.