Aaaarghhhhh !!!!!!!!!

OK the last 24 hours has me totally confused. Having moved up to 5nl after beating 2nl soundly it's all going wrong. Last night I got all in with KK and got out-donked by someone who calls with 53o and hits two pair. I talked it over some with a poker buddy and he reckons I should have laid it down, not called his all in raise.

Then today I find myself in the same scenario, and I think it cant happen again. Oh no? Just look ...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (8 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Hero ($5)
UTG ($6.82)
UTG+1 ($2.92)
MP1 ($5.93)
MP2 ($5.50)
CO ($8.42)
Button ($3.14)
SB ($7.68)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, K.
UTG calls $0.05, 1 fold, MP1 raises to $0.1, MP2 calls $0.10, 2 folds, SB calls $0.08, Hero raises to $0.3, UTG folds, MP1 calls $0.20, MP2 calls $0.20, SB calls $0.20.

Flop: ($1.25) 2, 6, 3 (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1, MP1 folds, MP2 raises to $3.6, SB folds, Hero raises to $4.7, MP2 calls $1.10.

Turn: ($10.65) 5 (2 players)

River: ($10.65) 9 (2 players)

Final Pot: $10.65

Results in white below:
Hero has Kd Kc (one pair, kings).
MP2 has 4c 6h (straight, six high).
Outcome: MP2 wins $10.65.

OK I tell myself ... clearly I have to stop reacting to all these all in plays and/or massive raises that are so prevalent. Everytime I have a good starting hand some clown goes AI and busts me with junk.

So ten minutes later I find myself in the following position ... this time I learn my lesson and pull the pin, I can't take three bust outs. Then look what happens ...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Button ($7.04)
Hero ($6.40)
BB ($2.03)
UTG ($5.51)
UTG+1 ($4.57)
MP1 ($6.87)
MP2 ($5.89)
MP3 ($3.86)
CO ($9.81)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, K.
UTG calls $0.05, UTG+1 calls $0.05, MP1 raises to $0.1, 3 folds, Button calls $0.10, Hero raises to $0.3, BB calls $0.25, UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls $0.20, Button calls $0.20.

Flop: ($1.55) 9, 6, J (5 players)
Hero bets $1, BB raises to $1.73, UTG calls $1.73, MP1 folds, Button folds, Hero calls $0.73.

Turn: ($6.74) 3 (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $3.48 (All-In), Hero folds.

River: ($10.22) 2 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $10.22

Results in white below:
BB has Tc Qc (high card, queen).
UTG has Td 8d (high card, jack).
Outcome: UTG wins $10.22.

Noooooooooooooooo !!!!!

I guess this is poker. Seriously though I'm finding this sort of play tough at this level. Am I better off folding to these AI plays or not ???

I quit after this hand before going on a serious tilt!

Hand one was fine. If you ever, ever play hand two like that again, I will personally find you and kill your first born.


Really, never do that again.

Suckouts happen. Scared money is dead money. Don't be dead money.

And I think on hand 2 I push on the flop.

My first born is almost seven so I'll keep an eye on him

Seriously I really would value several points of view here, becuase my friend who is a decent player reckons I should mostly fold at this level of play.

Hand 1: Shit happens.

Hand 2: This hand should be a big lesson for you. Think about it like this: if you saw that HH and didn't know the results, what would you say about the guy laying down KK there?

Edit: After a second glance, notice how many callers you got on both hands. What does this tell you, and how does it relate to your chance of getting sucked out on?

Raise more preflop. Suckouts happen.

Originally Posted by Buzz

My first born is almost seven so I'll keep an eye on him

Seriously I really would value several points of view here, becuase my friend who is a decent player reckons I should mostly fold at this level of play.

Does your 'friend' play in any homegames with you? ;]

I agree with the hand two judgements, but I certainly would've paused for thought with the first hand. That's a pretty co-ordinated board. That the dude had a straight is not surprising, therefore.

Depending on my mental state at the moment, I would have given serious consideration to folding. Top pair vs. a potential straight? Probably would've folded, in fact. The other board showed no such threat, though someone could've had a set.

Buck up though, Buzz. You'll find that sometimes things will work out the other way. Just last night, for instance, I pushed all in with a set, to a very co-ordinated board. One dude called, and I figured that he'd got the straight. "Oh well," I thought,"I've still had a good night".

Get back to the table after my milk run through the other tables I was playing only to see that dude had mucked.

Raise more pre-flop makes it easier to whatever level you are getting 1-2 callers. If the table is loose enough that 1-2 people will call a push I just shove it all in pre-flop and don't even bother playing poker with them!

3-4xBB depending on table texture (plus 1 BB for every additional limper)

my raises were always 10-14c at 5NL (usually 12c) and my reraises were always 3 times the initial raisers (unless there were a few callers then I might bet pot. If the pot gets big preflop just push with KK and expect Ax, or TT+ to call.

Thanks for the advice all ... was just having one of those days where I seemed to make the wrong call everytime

Jiggus - how many tables are you playing at once?

KK in microlimits is usually a very easy hand to play
1. Raise preflop to whatever will get you 1-2 callers.
2. Bet/reraise the pot on any non ace board
3. If you get callers push the turn unless an A hits or the top card pairs/flush completed

Originally Posted by Buzz

Thanks for the advice all ... was just having one of those days where I seemed to make the wrong call everytime

Jiggus - how many tables are you playing at once?

Four. That's the maximum at Paradise.