I have known the rules of poker for a long time, but am now getting very serious about playing. I have the cash to play a decent BR but am limiting myself to $100 of my own money per month, and forcing myself to grind it out at the .05/.10 tables as has been suggested in numerous posts throughout this forum. (Thank you number one to all the posters in this forum, because even at lower tables I am down about $50, though due to a bonus it is only about $20. On days off I tend to play 10 hours or more, plus 2-3 hours per night on work days which even at these low stakes can hurt us little fishies )

Now I am finally getting closer to the break even point each session, and even coming ahead some, as my game play improves. I had thought my biggest leak was not getting into enough hands, and have since realized that by correcting that, I was getting into too many hands. Limping in with 6 other people and having even A9o can be disastrous, and cause you to make tough decisions. Maybe later when I get better at making reads I can do that, but for now I am sticking with the Pre Flop suggestions given throughout this site.

This is where the problems start though. If I have, for example, AKs in late position and I raise say 3-4xBB, I get the table down to maybe 2 other people. Sounds good and from what I understand, this is what I want. Now we see the flop and I see A49 rainbow, or even A49 two suited. It is checked to me and I bet the pot; everyone else folds I got very small winnings. When I try and slowplay though, I seem to get callers and then get burned on the turn or river.

A prime example was last night. I had AKo and raised 3xBB, two ppl stay in and flop comes 10 J Q, rainbow giving me the nut straight. I bet about 30% of the pot and get one caller. Turn comes adding a second spade to the board. Now I am looking at villain having a potential flush draw. 17% chance for him to hit it so I bet the pot to take him out of pot odds range. He calls anyways. River comes with a third spade. I check and he bets 50% of the pot. Maybe I'm wrong here, but I feel I have to call and at least see for myself. (Yet another leak, table cop, so thank you number two for the posters that warn against this and also to the people that tell you to write over and over what leaks you will not do any longer - I am getting much better at not being the cop). Sure enough he has the flush and I lose. I don't mind losing the call money I put in on the river. What gets me is I feel I have two choices...win a small pot, or grow a pot and take a greater risk losing it.

Should the majority of my wins come from winning before the turn? When should you give just enough pot odds to entice a call? Thanks (number three) to the vast amount of information here, I am becoming a much more aggressive player. Now I feel I am a little too aggressive and win smaller pots because of it. Any suggestions?