WMGSD: Courchevel (1 Viewer)

MrCatPants

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With the update to Poker Mavens, Courchevel became available, so figured it would be a timely game to cover in this Weekly Mixed Game Strategy Discussion.

About the game:

Sequence: Courchevel is 5 card Omaha, played either HI or Hi Lo. The main difference in Courchevel is that prior to the first round of betting, the first community card is revealed (the "door" card). Then the first round of betting begins. Followed by the next two cards to complete the flop, and a second betting round. Then turn and river per normal. The game follows standard Omaha rules of using "two and only two" cards from your hand to combine with three community cards to make your strongest poker hand.

Winning Hands: Best Omaha Hi hand, or in the case of Hi Lo, a split pot between the best Hi hand and best Lo hand (8 qualifier).

Variants: Hi or Hi Lo

Mr. Cat Pants' Observations about the Hi Lo Version (please debate these if you disagree):
  • In this game far fewer hands should see the flop than a normal 5 card PLO8 game - the door card notably changes equities against the field.
    • Lets say you have the ultimate starting hand of :ah: :ac::2h::3c::4s:- heads up, this hand is 68% equity against a random 5 card starter and 66% against a top quartile hand...
      • A door card of :5h: increases your equity to 75.5% against a random 5 card starter and 73% against a top quartile hand
      • A (bad) door card of :td:cuts your equity to 57% against a random 5 card starter and 56% against a top quartile hand
        • 54% against a hand with two random diamonds
        • 48% against a hand with a single 10 and random other cards
        • 45% against a broadway wrap containing a 10
        • 44% against a hand with a single 10 and two diamonds
        • 43% against a broadway wrap containing a 10 and two diamonds
        • 34% against a set of tens
        • 31% against a set of tens and two diamonds
        • 23% against an A 2 10 10 X hand with two diamonds
  • Because of the door card, you will be folding hands that you would often raise with pre-flop in traditional 5 card PLO8 - and releasing these hands is the key to a solid win rate
  • Having a set on a low door card and an otherwise mediocre starter should not be overplayed - (a hand like :3d::3h::6c::td::js: with a door card of :3c:only has...
    • 56% equity against a random hand
    • 51% equity against a random top 25% hand
    • 45% equity against a suited :ac::2c::4x:X X hand
Mr. Cat Pants' Contemplative Questions
  • How strongly does your hand have to coordinate with the door card to allow for heavy pre-flop aggression (3-bet+)?
  • When holding a low hand, and the door card being a low card that doesn't coordinate with high possibilities (off suit 8 when you are holding a suited A234x type of hand), should you lead in position? Check call? Fold to aggression?
  • Should strong high only hands :kx::kx::qx::qx::jx:be folded if the door card is a low card that is not connected with any flush draws? Or peel the rest of the flop cheaply?
 
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Mr. Cat Pants' Contemplative Questions
  • How strongly does your hand have to coordinate with the door card to allow for heavy pre-flop aggression (3-bet+)?
  • When holding a low hand, and the door card being a low card that doesn't coordinate with high possibilities (off suit 8 when you are holding a suited A234x type of hand), should you lead in position? Check call? Fold to aggression?
  • Should strong high only hands :kx::kx::qx::qx::jx:be folded if the door card is a low card that is not connected with any flush draws? Or peel the rest of the flop cheaply?
1) Extremely strongly. Like something that gives you a 3-flush to the nuts while also a strong low possibility.

In a game where you're dealt 5 cards, nut low combos go down in value since there are likely other nut-low draws in the field. It's probably more valuable when the door card is likely to have counterfeited someone else's low draw - i.e. an ace or a deuce while you're holding A-2-3-x-x.

The thing is, preflop equities still run pretty close even with one flop card exposed. It's really just extra information, which has value in many ways including card removal, odds of making whatever hand you might be drawing to, etc.

2) Are we discussing PL, NL, or fixed limit?

In general, in split pot games aggression is rewarded when you have a chance to win the hi and the low. The greater your chance of scooping or winning 3/4, the more aggressive you should be.

3) Equities change so much that flops while holding hands like KKQQJ should be taken as much as possible, especially when in position and you can get in cheap. The thing is, even if the door card is a low card (in your example), you have a chance to win half of a large pot while scooping the hi if multiple people make the nut low.

No chimer-inners?
I don't know that too many people around here are very interested in discussing overarching/abstract concepts about various games. I've tried to start discussions about broader topics in the past and they've never really gone anywhere.
 

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