Was I even close to playing this hand correctly?

The Poker Stars micro tables are driving me crazy. I am taking so many bad beats and suckouts that i have no clue if it is just the game or if i have fundamental flaws. My confidence level is in the crapper. Unfortunately i dont have enough of a bankroll to move to the .25/.50 Although i am guessing it probably isnt much different there

PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A, J.
1 fold, Hero raises, 3 folds, CO calls, 3 folds.

Flop: (5.50 SB) 8, Q, J (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Turn: (3.75 BB) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

River: (5.75 BB) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.75 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Ad Jd (two pair, jacks and eights).
CO has Kd 8s (three of a kind, eights).
Outcome: CO wins 9.75 BB.

Without reading the result, pre flop looks good. 1 caller, just what you want.

flop, you fire a bet with middle pair again. looks good to me, he just calls. i'm guessing passive player hoping for some sort of draw

turn, fire again... no reason to think you're behind. he may be calling down with a queen... a little bit of fear sets in in me now, but not enough to slow down.

river, got reraised. crap. the jerk has an 8 dosn't he? I don't know if it's worth calling. unless you think he's a bluffer, i'd give up.

now to see the result....

sho nuff.

at micro stakes, people are crazy or cowards. they will bet nothing at all far to often. or, they only bet when they have something. they might not have much, but they have something....

I think it's worth making the crying call at the .01/.02 cent tables to get used to the idea that fish will suck out on you. after you show down this hand a few thousand hands you'll get a good feel for when you're ahead and behind.

you played just fine.

I try and check/call on the river, but I am a bit timid lately. I want to show this hand down, but I don't want to pay him 2 bets if he caught.

move to the .25/.50 Although i am guessing it probably isnt much different there

No, it's a lot different there. You can actually blind steal and stuff at the stars quarter game.

I recommend playing the .05/.10 game instead. These players take it a tad more seriously.

Originally Posted by lonnie

I try and check/call on the river, but I am a bit timid lately. I want to show this hand down, but I don't want to pay him 2 bets if he caught.

i've been struggleing with when to make a river bet... I mean, if i KNOW i'm ahead, i bet.... but if i'm not sure i'll just call. I dunno. It sure dosn't seem like that last bet is going to bluff anyone out of a hand... what sort of standards do you use? is a set an automatic bet? even if there is a 4 flush on the board and you don't have any?

I'm sure when i play more hands, i'll get a better sense of it...

Here are two more examples. Is there anyway to know that i am beat?PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with J, Q.
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls, 1 fold, Hero calls, CO calls, Button calls, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: (7.50 SB) T, 2, Q (7 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets, CO calls, Button calls, BB calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls.

Turn: (7.25 BB) 4 (7 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets, CO folds, Button calls, BB calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls.

River: (12.25 BB) 3 (5 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets, Button calls, BB folds, UTG folds, MP1 calls.

Final Pot: 15.25 BB

Results in white below:
MP1 has 3s 4s (two pair, fours and threes).
Hero has Jd Qd (one pair, queens).
Button has Ah 3c (one pair, threes).
Outcome: MP1 wins 15.25 BB.


PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Q, J.
UTG calls, 2 folds, Hero calls, 1 fold, CO calls, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) Q, 6, 7 (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, CO folds, SB calls, BB calls, UTG 3-bets, Hero caps, SB calls, BB calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (10.50 BB) J (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, SB calls, BB calls, UTG 3-bets, Hero calls, SB calls, BB calls.

River: (22.50 BB) A (4 players)
SB bets, BB folds, UTG calls, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 25.50 BB

Results in white below:
SB has Td Kh (straight, ace high).
UTG has Tc 6c (one pair, sixes).
Hero has Qs Jc (two pair, queens and jacks).
Outcome: SB wins 25.50 BB.


And finally one holds up, but it scared the bejeezus outta me


PokerStars 0.02/0.04 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K, K.
UTG calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, MP2 calls, 1 fold, CO calls, Button 3-bets, 2 folds, UTG calls, Hero caps, MP2 calls, CO calls, Button calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (21.50 SB) 4, 5, T (5 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets, MP2 calls, CO calls, Button calls, UTG folds.

Turn: (12.75 BB) 6 (4 players)
Hero bets, MP2 calls, CO calls, Button calls.

River: (16.75 BB) Q (4 players)
Hero bets, MP2 calls, CO calls, Button raises, Hero calls, MP2 folds, CO calls.

Final Pot: 23 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Kc Kh (one pair, kings).
CO has 8c Td (one pair, tens).
Button has Js Qc (one pair, queens).
Outcome: Hero wins 23 BB.

On the first hand with AJs, if you are going to bet the river you have to fold to the raise in most cases, other wise check call.