[Buzz]

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Against '2' completly random hands A236s is a fricken monster preflop. Given stack sizes/PF pot size, why let the donks outplay hero?

[/ QUOTE ]StrikeR - Preflop, A236s is ahead of two (or three or four) random hands, but it is hardly a "monster." (Four handed, I think it's something like roughly 35 to 22 to 22 to 22).

But Omaha-8 is very much different from Texas hold 'em. Immediately after the flop, the lead can change. The expectation of Hero's hand against random hands didn't change much in this particular case, going from pre-flop to post-flop to turn. However, another time it might, and a skilled player has more understanding of that and how to use it than someone lacking in playing skill.

In other words, if you're playing opponents lacking in skill, don't you figure to have even more of a skill edge on the second, third, and fourth betting rounds? (It's important to know a good starting hand from a poor one, but how much "skill" does that take?)

If these opponents had large stacks in reserve, the big pre-flop check-raise would make more sense to me than it does here. But by forcing your opponents all in before the flop, you're eliminating all further elements of skill! Your edge is your skill and you're taking that out of play!

These opponents don't have any more money to contribute when you'd like to bet your hand and you can't manipulate them when you'd like to get them out of the pot. It's just skill-less showdown poker.

Buzz