Pre-flop spots in "zoo/action" game
So, a recent session in my live 5/5/10 PLO 9 handed game had crazy action. Many hands were 3 or 4 bet (often with 1 or more players all-in) pre-flop, and still multi-way. This was probably driven by one really big action player with a big stack, the game having survived overnight (I generally arrive in the early AM), and several of the looser recs/pros being stuck.
I was mainly curious about a few pre-flop spots I had when my stack was around 1,000:
I. 10 9 8 7 (ds)
It became obvious that this was one of the hands that was likely going to be several players all-in pre-flop. Am I ever folding this?
II. 6 5 4 3 (hh)
I had the opportunity to close the pre-flop action for 60 six-ways so the pot would have been 360 with my SPR around 3. Was calling too spewy?
III. 8 8 5 5 (dd)
This hand was likely going to end up 4 or 5 handed, with me being mostly (or) all in PF. In the moment I was thinking I'm 25% to flop a set and therefore, if I get to see all 5 cards (and realize my equity), I'm probably 40%+ to have at least a set by the end. I realize that I don't always win when I make my hand, but it just seemed like the odds I was getting were too good. Thoughts?
7 Replies
Depending on how much I have already invested in the first hand, I might gii. If it's not much, I fold. Hand II is spewy, but see below for that call and to gii in the other two hands.
If you want to gamble, you don't tilt, and you can reload, it is only 100bb 😉
Hand 1 is whatever. Can do what you want. Hands 2 and 3 are folds.
Please give us more details about action. Very hard to generalise. At a guess, you can play all 3 spots.
Action for hands 1 and 2 (can't remember 3), all spots are 1k effective (I'm the short stack)
I. 10 9 8 7 (ds)
With tight image I raise UTG to 40, loose/aggressive pro (3k stack) makes it 125 in EP. MP (loose aggressive rec who buys in short (500) and generally is looking to get it in, in for several buy-ins (but just doubled up to 1000) makes it 375, super action player with deep stack flats. This was my first decision point, I flat. EP pots, MP calls for less, action player repots. EP is obviously going to call regardless of what I do, but I assume I'm forced to call?
II. 6 5 4 3 (hh)
EP/tight rec limps, I (MP) limp, button (young Euro GTO pro) pots to 60, SB (super action player) flats, BB (loose/aggressive thinking rec) flats, straddle flats, EP (original limper) flats, so I am closing the action needing to call another 50, for 6-way pot that will be 360.
That helps. In H1, now that I am here, I go for it. However, if that was my plan, I repot the $375.
H2 I don't limp in the first place. I snap fold. As played, do whatever you want, but I just fold and kick myself for limping. That hand is dominated in so many way.
Action for hands 1 and 2 (can't remember 3), all spots are 1k effective (I'm the short stack)I. 10 9 8 7 (ds)With tight image I raise UTG to 40, loose/aggressive pro (3k stack) makes it 125 in EP. MP (loose aggressive rec who buys in short (500) and generally is looking to get it in, in for several buy-ins (but just doubled up to 1000) makes it 375, super action player with d
Based on your OP and these reads/situation...
Hand 1) I don't even pfr this 9h UTG with these kinds of reads. Your hand is good but not great multiway, 1 or both of your suits can be covered so I'd basically treat this as a rainbow or ss rundown hand which plays much better IP. You can limp and if action goes like this it's a pretty easy fold pf, you're only in for 4bb and you cold call 37bb, not too sure why unless you just felt like gambling but this is another easy fold for 1/3 of your stack. There's 0 room to fold now after you've done that tho
Hand 2) bad limp from this spot in a game that seems like it's often getting 3b/4b and 6 high rundown is pretty trashy. closing the action we def call
Thanks for all the comments, I really appreciate everyone's thoughts and I am definitely learning a lot by posting these hands/questions!
Regarding the one comment on hand 1 (10 9 8 7 DS), that if my plan was to play this hand, I should repot the 375. I did think about that in the moment, and while I don't disagree, my logic was that I had little to no fold equity, so as there was only one person behind me who could raise, why not see if it stays 375 and I can wait to see if the flop comes something like AAK (none of my suits) before I commit my whole stack?
Ironically, my main takeaway so far, is that even though I am generally considered the tightest player at the table, I'm still too loose in certain situations!
