25NL theme: How to extract value from quality hands

I'm having a lot of trouble lately extracting value from my hands when I hit the flop hard. Now this could be because variance says that my opponents aren't hitting anything at all or it could be because I'm betting too much or not enough or something like that, so here goes. Most villains I see on stars at the moment are relative unknowns so I don't really have reads/stats on any of them that would help.

Hand 1:
PokerStars Pot-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

SB ($23.95)
BB ($13.80)
UTG ($12.25)
UTG+1 ($11.50)
MP1 ($14.25)
MP2 ($47.10)
Hero (CO) ($25)
Button ($4.75)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 5, 5
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, 1 fold, BB raises to $0.50, MP1 calls $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25

Flop: ($2.60) 3, A, 5 (5 players)
BB bets $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 2 folds

Total pot: $4.60 | Rake: $0.20

Hand 2
PokerStars Pot-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

Button ($17.85)
Hero (SB) ($29.90)
BB ($6.65)
UTG ($5)
UTG+1 ($16)
MP1 ($14.25)
MP2 ($42.50)
MP3 ($51.75)
CO ($12.70)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, 8
UTG (poster) checks, 6 folds, Hero raises to $1, BB calls $0.75, UTG (poster) calls $0.75

Flop: ($3) 6, 2, 8 (3 players)
Hero bets $1.50, 2 folds

Total pot: $3 | Rake: $0.15

Hand 3:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

Button ($22.60)
SB ($24.75)
Hero (BB) ($28.45)
UTG ($25.35)
UTG+1 ($23.35)
MP1 ($4.65)
MP2 ($19.45)
MP3 ($25)
CO ($26)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, Q
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, 4 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, UTG+1 calls $1.25, MP2 calls $1.25

Flop: ($4.60) K, J, 10 (3 players)
Hero bets $3.50, 2 folds

Total pot: $4.60 | Rake: $0.20

Hand 4:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

BB ($25)
UTG ($25)
UTG+1 ($20.75)
MP1 ($50.55)
MP2 ($32.20)
Hero (MP3) ($45.20)
CO ($36.90)
Button ($4.85)
SB ($4.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 4, 4
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 4 folds, UTG+1 calls $1

Flop: ($2.85) Q, 4, A (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $2, 1 fold

Total pot: $2.85 | Rake: $0.10

Hand 5:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

MP2 ($25)
CO ($25)
Button ($22.75)
SB ($48.45)
BB ($30.75)
Hero (UTG) ($42.25)
UTG+1 ($37.25)
MP1 ($9.25)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, Q
Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, MP1 calls $1, 5 folds

Flop: ($2.35) A, Q, K (2 players)
Hero bets $2.25, MP1 calls $2.25

Turn: ($6.85) 10 (2 players)
Hero bets $4, 1 fold

Total pot: $6.85 | Rake: $0.30

Hand 6:
PokerStars Pot-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

BB ($25)
UTG ($13.95)
UTG+1 ($27.10)
MP1 ($18.50)
MP2 ($14.75)
MP3 ($7.05)
CO ($48.05)
Hero (Button) ($28.95)
SB ($2.25)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K, K
2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.75, 3 folds, Hero raises to $2.60, 2 folds, MP1 calls $1.85

Flop: ($5.55) K, 6, 10 (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $3.50, 1 fold

Total pot: $5.55 | Rake: $0.25

Hand 7:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

Hero (UTG) ($25)
MP ($24.80)
CO ($17.10)
Button ($23.50)
SB ($25.85)
BB ($16.50)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 6, 6
Hero raises to $1, 4 folds, BB calls $0.75

Flop: ($2.10) 2, 8, 6 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.50, 1 fold

Total pot: $2.10 | Rake: $0.10


Hand 8:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

UTG ($12.35)
UTG+1 ($6.05)
MP1 ($10.45)
Hero (MP2) ($25.40)
MP3 ($22.95)
CO ($11.45)
Button ($1.50)
SB ($41.10)
BB ($22.65)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with J, A
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 2 folds, Button raises to $1.50 (All-In), 2 folds, UTG calls $1.25, Hero calls $0.25

Flop: ($4.85) 8, 9, 6 (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($4.85) 3 (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG bets $0.25, Hero raises to $3.50, UTG raises to $6.75, Hero raises to $11, 1 fold

River: ($18.35) 2 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $18.35 | Rake: $0.90

I realise some of those hands may look incredibly standard to you all and for that I apologise, but I want to make sure that I am playing these hands right as after all, if I risk a lot of money before I hit to get these hands, I want to be paid off to make sure I'm at least making profitable implied odds calls

these are all fine. you're just unlucky that villain doesn't have anything.

don't slowplay. you seem to be good at not doing that though

all standard

Hand 1 he probably has a middle pocket pair so it doesn't matter what you do.

Hand 5 I'd fold if he raised, result is fine.

Hand 6 is where betting smaller (like you did) is good because of the 3bet pre. It's less likely he's on a flush draw, and the flop didn't likely hit him hard.

Hand 7 is one where I might check the flop since it's so dry and raggy

Sometimes it comes down to villains. If they're passive just bet because they're not going to raise you and it's hard to get the stack in if you give up one street. If you know a player is aggressive then you could consider c/r or something, but even then it doesn't always matter.

Keep an eye on your tables. If they're getting nitty post-flop then either you need to adjust your game or find a new table. If just you want to get paid on your good hands then it helps to have either passive stations, or agro donks at your table.

I agree with iopq, all are standard and many are on boards that your opponents will have hit well a good percentage of the time. Chalk this up to variance and keep betting strong when you have a strong hand.

yeah I mean, sure I personally check a 268 flop a lot of the time, it's still not going to get me a lot of value even if I check it

Hand 1: Standard. Calling here sucks if a 2 or 4 comes off because even if Villain doesn't suck out, he's not putting in much more with a bare Ace.

Hand 2: Betting or checking is okay here. I might actually check since there aren't many cards that will be suckouts, but there are plenty of overcards that Villains could hit to give you more action.

Hand 3: Standard. Never check here, ever.

Hand 4: Again, if Villain doesn't have something he's going to call with here (that you beat), then there probably aren't any cards that can come that will give him a good enough hand to call a bet that you still beat.

Hand 5: This is fine, and is the most interesting hand so far imo.

Hand 6: Super standard.

Hand 7: See hand #2.

Hand 8: You played the flop well (no sarcasm). Standard as well.

Looks like you played them all pretty good.IMO