Hello Everyone,

I just started playing online a few weeks ago and at about the same time found this site. I have enjoyed reading your discussions a great deal and have found your input very helpful. I have been playang at Party Poker. As most, I started playing in the play money rooms for some time, then took the plunge and made my first deposit. I went to the .25/.50 limit rooms first, but quickly soured on them. I just didn't enjoy them (read that - I was losing money). Next, I spent some time in the $5/1 No Limit SnG. In those I was holding my own money wise and it helped me realize that I like the No Limit game more, at least to this point.

So, I moved over to the $25 NL games. My initial efforts went pretty well. After about 3 days I was up about $260 and feeling quite good about myself. However, now after several more days, I'm down about $25 (meaning -$285 from my high) and feeling not as well as before.

As a newbie, I am finding it difficult to get a good read on how I am playing. After about 4,000 hands (I purchased Poker Tracker - great piece of software), I am putting voluntarily putting money in the pot 25.93% of the time. Which I think means I'm not playing too many hands. But on the other hand, I feel like a rock (My aggresions rating in PT is: Pre-flolp=.19; Flop=2.39; Turn=1.72; River=1.44; Overall=.63). I am raising Pre-flop 4.23% of the time. I feel like I should be more aggressive; yet, aggression can easily become loose play. Balancing those concepts seems to me relates to making sure you play only good starting hands, but to play them aggressively. That is much easier to say than do.

A typical session for me usually has me holding my own in the room until a big pot happens. I either make a lot or lose a lot in one hand. I am having trouble building my stack through winning small pots. I've included below 10 hands which show the worst loses I've had in the last several days. I'd like some input on how I played these hands. Some just look like bad beasts to me and some look like stupidity.

Again, I think this is a great site a look forward to getting to know all of you better,

Thanks
aneratergos

1) Pocket Ten's lose to an Ace River

***** Hand History for Game 831544059 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - TUE AUG 10 14:56:02 EDT 2004
Table Table 14048 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: gus_16 ( $25.20)
Seat 2: mikeymcd24 ( $18.85)
Seat 3: McGurgen ( $77.65)
Seat 4: quahogger ( $27.10)
Seat 5: Placerbay ( $43.86)
Seat 6: aneratergos ( $51.72)
gus_16 posts small blind (0.25)
mikeymcd24 posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ Ts, Td ]
quahogger folds.
aneratergos raises (1) to 1
gus_16 folds.
mikeymcd24 raises (2.50) to 3
aneratergos raises (24) to 25
mikeymcd24 calls (15.85)
mikeymcd24 is all-In.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 7d, 3d, 2s ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 5h ]
** Dealing River ** : [ Ac ]
Creating Main Pot with $37.95 with mikeymcd24
** Summary **
Main Pot: $37.95 | Side Pot 1: $6.15 | Rake: $0
Board: [ 7d 3d 2s 5h Ac ]
gus_16 balance $24.95, lost $0.25 (folded)
mikeymcd24 balance $37.95, bet $18.85, collected $37.95, net +$19.10 [ 6d Ad ] [ a pair of aces -- Ad,Ac,7d,6d,5h ]
McGurgen balance $77.65, sits out
quahogger balance $27.10, didn't bet (folded)
Placerbay balance $43.86, sits out
aneratergos balance $32.87, bet $25, collected $6.15, lost -$18.85 [ Ts Td ] [ a pair of tens -- Ac,Ts,Td,7d,5h ]


2) Pocket Ten's lose to Queens

***** Hand History for Game 819188798 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - FRI AUG 06 13:04:53 EDT 2004
Table Table 14479 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: tampy ( $16.50)
Seat 2: derekmurr ( $9.90)
Seat 3: aneratergos ( $20)
Seat 5: roburmonies ( $13.40)
Seat 6: dec2703 ( $39.10)
tampy posts small blind (0.25)
derekmurr posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ Th, Ts ]
aneratergos calls (0.50)
roburmonies calls (0.50)
dec2703 calls (0.50)
tampy raises (1.75) to 2
derekmurr calls (1.50)
aneratergos calls (1.50)
roburmonies folds.
dec2703 calls (1.50)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9h, Qs, 4d ]
tampy checks.
derekmurr checks.
aneratergos bets (2)
dec2703 calls (2)
tampy folds.
derekmurr folds.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 2c ]
aneratergos checks.
dec2703 bets (4)
aneratergos raises (16) to 16
aneratergos is all-In.
dec2703 calls (12)
** Dealing River ** : [ 3h ]
Creating Main Pot with $42.50 with aneratergos
** Summary **
Main Pot: $42.50 | | Rake: $2
Board: [ 9h Qs 4d 2c 3h ]
tampy balance $14.50, lost $2 (folded)
derekmurr balance $7.90, lost $2 (folded)
aneratergos balance $0, lost $20 [ Th Ts ] [ a pair of tens -- Qs,Th,Ts,9h,4d ]
Jonblaze12 balance $18, sits out
roburmonies balance $12.90, lost $0.50 (folded)
dec2703 balance $61.60, bet $20, collected $42.50, net +$22.50 [ Qd 7d ] [ a pair of queens -- Qd,Qs,9h,7d,4d ]


3) Three's full of Kings lose to Kings full of Sixes

***** Hand History for Game 832905652 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - TUE AUG 10 22:43:07 EDT 2004
Table Table 14112 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: ardin ( $56.37)
Seat 2: grz_1 ( $19.55)
Seat 3: Lynchmob2198 ( $36)
Seat 4: z3185 ( $58.20)
Seat 5: Zaint ( $71.85)
Seat 6: aneratergos ( $24.85)
aneratergos posts small blind (0.25)
ardin posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ 3s, 3d ]
grz_1 folds.
Lynchmob2198 calls (0.50)
z3185 calls (0.50)
Zaint calls (0.50)
aneratergos calls (0.25)
ardin checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 3c, 5c, Kd ]
aneratergos bets (0.50)
ardin calls (0.50)
Lynchmob2198 folds.
z3185 raises (3) to 3
Zaint folds.
aneratergos raises (23.85) to 24.35
aneratergos is all-In.
ardin folds.
z3185 calls (21.35)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Kc ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 6h ]
Creating Main Pot with $49.70 with aneratergos
** Summary **
Main Pot: $49.70 | | Rake: $2
Board: [ 3c 5c Kd Kc 6h ]
ardin balance $55.37, lost $1 (folded)
grz_1 balance $19.55, didn't bet (folded)
Lynchmob2198 balance $35.50, lost $0.50 (folded)
z3185 balance $83.05, bet $24.85, collected $49.70, net +$24.85 [ 6c Ks ] [ a full house, Kings full of sixes -- Ks,Kd,Kc,6c,6h ]
Zaint balance $71.35, lost $0.50 (folded)
aneratergos balance $0, lost $24.85 [ 3s 3d ] [ a full house, Threes full of kings -- Kd,Kc,3s,3d,3c ]



4) 3 Kings lose to Kings full of Nines

***** Hand History for Game 821693104 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - SAT AUG 07 05:02:56 EDT 2004
Table Table 14066 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Jayee ( $23.75)
Seat 2: simmott1414 ( $85.15)
Seat 3: aneratergos ( $38.70)
Seat 4: Dubra1 ( $20.25)
Seat 5: bliz504917 ( $49.80)
Seat 6: ToOMaNy4Ces ( $15.85)
simmott1414 posts small blind (0.25)
aneratergos posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ Kh, 6s ]
Dubra1 did not respond in time.
Dubra1 folds.
bliz504917 calls (0.50)
ToOMaNy4Ces calls (0.50)
Jayee folds.
simmott1414 calls (0.25)
aneratergos checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Kc, Kd, 5s ]
simmott1414 checks.
aneratergos checks.
bliz504917 checks.
ToOMaNy4Ces checks.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Js ]
simmott1414 bets (2)
aneratergos calls (2)
bliz504917 folds.
ToOMaNy4Ces raises (4) to 4
simmott1414 calls (2)
aneratergos raises (8) to 10
ToOMaNy4Ces raises (11.35) to 15.35
ToOMaNy4Ces is all-In.
simmott1414 folds.
aneratergos calls (5.35)
** Dealing River ** : [ 9s ]
Creating Main Pot with $34.90 with ToOMaNy4Ces
** Summary **
Main Pot: $34.90 | | Rake: $1.80
Board: [ Kc Kd 5s Js 9s ]
Jayee balance $23.75, didn't bet (folded)
simmott1414 balance $80.65, lost $4.50 (folded)
aneratergos balance $22.85, lost $15.85 [ Kh 6s ] [ three of a kind, kings -- Kh,Kc,Kd,Js,9s ]
Dubra1 balance $20.25, didn't bet (folded)
bliz504917 balance $49.30, lost $0.50 (folded)
ToOMaNy4Ces balance $34.90, bet $15.85, collected $34.90, net +$19.05 [ Ks 9c ] [ a full house, Kings full of nines -- Ks,Kc,Kd,9c,9s ]

5) Folded to Set of 5's

***** Hand History for Game 818280312 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - FRI AUG 06 01:39:57 EDT 2004
Table Table 15385 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: plmiller ( $17.20)
Seat 2: USNick ( $22.60)
Seat 3: shawnhck ( $26.85)
Seat 4: muffiediver ( $21.20)
Seat 5: aneratergos ( $31.20)
Seat 6: ssw168 ( $24)
aneratergos posts small blind (0.25)
ssw168 posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ 5d, 5c ]
plmiller folds.
USNick calls (0.50)
shawnhck: yeah
shawnhck calls (0.50)
muffiediver folds.
aneratergos calls (0.25)
ssw168 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 4c, 5s, 3c ]
aneratergos bets (0.50)
ssw168 raises (3) to 3
USNick folds.
shawnhck calls (3)
aneratergos raises (7.50) to 8
ssw168 did not respond in time.
ssw168 folds.
USNick: jnesus
USNick: christ
shawnhck calls (5)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Ad ]
aneratergos bets (3)
shawnhck raises (10) to 10
aneratergos folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $32.65 | Rake: $1.35
Board: [ 4c 5s 3c Ad ]
plmiller balance $17.20, didn't bet (folded)
USNick balance $22.10, lost $0.50 (folded)
shawnhck balance $41, bet $18.50, collected $32.65, net +$14.15
muffiediver balance $21.20, didn't bet (folded)
aneratergos balance $19.70, lost $11.50 (folded)
ssw168 balance $20.50, lost $3.50 (folded)

6) Jacks lose to Nines

***** Hand History for Game 831615708 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - TUE AUG 10 15:28:44 EDT 2004
Table Table 14048 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: gemdrops ( $30.20)
Seat 2: yoondog615 ( $10.40)
Seat 3: gutshot24 ( $36.65)
Seat 5: ik88aw1 ( $27.45)
Seat 6: aneratergos ( $34.82)
ik88aw1 posts small blind (0.25)
aneratergos posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ Jc, Ks ]
gemdrops raises (1) to 1
yoondog615 folds.
gutshot24 folds.
ik88aw1 folds.
aneratergos calls (0.50)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Jd, 4c, 8s ]
aneratergos bets (3)
gemdrops calls (3)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 9s ]
aneratergos bets (2)
gemdrops raises (4) to 4
aneratergos calls (2)
** Dealing River ** : [ 3d ]
aneratergos checks.
gemdrops bets (6)
aneratergos calls (6)
** Summary **
Main Pot: $26.85 | Rake: $1.40
Board: [ Jd 4c 8s 9s 3d ]
gemdrops balance $43.05, bet $14, collected $26.85, net +$12.85 [ 9c 9d ] [ three of a kind, nines -- Jd,9c,9d,9s,8s ]
yoondog615 balance $10.40, didn't bet (folded)
gutshot24 balance $36.65, didn't bet (folded)
phantomdw2 balance $25, sits out
ik88aw1 balance $27.20, lost $0.25 (folded)
aneratergos balance $20.82, lost $14 [ Jc Ks ] [ a pair of jacks -- Ks,Jc,Jd,9s,8s ]


7) Jacks lose to Queens

***** Hand History for Game 830339993 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - TUE AUG 10 00:14:50 EDT 2004
Table Table 14170 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: Matt_ingly23 ( $77.18)
Seat 2: twosvenoff ( $25.70)
Seat 3: keeper38 ( $21.20)
Seat 4: aneratergos ( $17.75)
Seat 5: drewbop ( $29.90)
aneratergos posts small blind (0.25)
drewbop posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ Jc, Jh ]
Matt_ingly23 folds.
twosvenoff folds.
keeper38 calls (0.50)
aneratergos raises (2.75) to 3
drewbop calls (2.50)
keeper38 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 7c, 2c, Qs ]
aneratergos bets (4)
drewbop raises (26.90) to 26.90
drewbop is all-In.
aneratergos calls (10.75)
aneratergos is all-In.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 6d ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 8c ]
Creating Main Pot with $34.20 with aneratergos
Creating Side Pot 1 with $12.15 with drewbop
** Summary **
Main Pot: $34.20 | Side Pot 1: $12.15 | Rake: $1.80
Board: [ 7c 2c Qs 6d 8c ]
Matt_ingly23 balance $77.18, didn't bet (folded)
twosvenoff balance $25.70, didn't bet (folded)
keeper38 balance $20.70, lost $0.50 (folded)
aneratergos balance $0, lost $17.75 [ Jc Jh ] [ a pair of jacks -- Qs,Jc,Jh,8c,7c ]
drewbop balance $46.35, bet $29.90, collected $46.35, net +$16.45 [ Th Qc ] [ a pair of queens -- Qc,Qs,Th,8c,7c ]
taylortribe balance $6, sits out



8) A's and 2's lose to a set of 6's

***** Hand History for Game 827291945 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - MON AUG 09 00:02:08 EDT 2004
Table Table 14487 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: raven3449 ( $13.90)
Seat 2: bbeamer777 ( $21.35)
Seat 3: HammerDon ( $25.05)
Seat 4: yong1013 ( $17.70)
Seat 5: aneratergos ( $28.40)
Seat 6: SomeKid85 ( $25.85)
aneratergos posts small blind (0.25)
SomeKid85 posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ 2h, Ad ]
raven3449 calls (0.50)
bbeamer777 folds.
HammerDon calls (0.50)
yong1013 calls (0.50)
aneratergos calls (0.25)
SomeKid85 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9d, Ac, 2d ]
aneratergos checks.
SomeKid85 checks.
raven3449 checks.
HammerDon checks.
yong1013 checks.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 6c ]
aneratergos bets (2)
SomeKid85 folds.
raven3449 calls (2)
HammerDon calls (2)
yong1013 folds.
** Dealing River ** : [ 4h ]
aneratergos bets (5)
raven3449 raises (10) to 10
HammerDon folds.
aneratergos calls (5)
** Summary **
Main Pot: $27.10 | Rake: $1.40
Board: [ 9d Ac 2d 6c 4h ]
raven3449 balance $28.50, bet $12.50, collected $27.10, net +$14.60 [ 6h 6s ] [ three of a kind, sixes -- Ac,9d,6h,6s,6c ]
bbeamer777 balance $21.35, didn't bet (folded)
HammerDon balance $22.55, lost $2.50 (folded)
yong1013 balance $17.20, lost $0.50 (folded)
aneratergos balance $15.90, lost $12.50 [ 2h Ad ] [ two pairs, aces and twos -- Ad,Ac,9d,2h,2d ]
SomeKid85 balance $25.35, lost $0.50 (folded)


9) A's and 8's lose to A's and Q's

***** Hand History for Game 828176830 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - MON AUG 09 09:57:21 EDT 2004
Table Table 14100 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: PokaMenaZ ( $18.05)
Seat 2: aneratergos ( $33.10)
Seat 3: jasdog3 ( $25)
Seat 4: stevekent53 ( $25.15)
Seat 5: Emoryuva ( $17.70)
Seat 6: Silver_Cloud ( $24.25)
stevekent53 posts small blind (0.25)
Emoryuva posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ 8d, 8h ]
Silver_Cloud folds.
PokaMenaZ calls (0.50)
aneratergos calls (0.50)
stevekent53 calls (0.25)
Emoryuva checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 5s, 9c, Qs ]
stevekent53 checks.
Emoryuva checks.
PokaMenaZ checks.
aneratergos bets (2)
stevekent53 calls (2)
Emoryuva folds.
PokaMenaZ calls (2)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Ac ]
stevekent53 checks.
PokaMenaZ checks.
aneratergos checks.
** Dealing River ** : [ Ad ]
stevekent53 bets (4)
PokaMenaZ folds.
aneratergos calls (4)
** Summary **
Main Pot: $15.20 | Rake: $0.80
Board: [ 5s 9c Qs Ac Ad ]
PokaMenaZ balance $15.55, lost $2.50 (folded)
aneratergos balance $26.60, lost $6.50 [ 8d 8h ] [ two pairs, aces and eights -- Ac,Ad,Qs,8d,8h ]
jasdog3 balance $25, sits out
stevekent53 balance $33.85, bet $6.50, collected $15.20, net +$8.70 [ Qd 4s ] [ two pairs, aces and queens -- Ac,Ad,Qd,Qs,9c ]
Emoryuva balance $17.20, lost $0.50 (folded)
Silver_Cloud balance $24.25, didn't bet (folded)

10) Pocket A's broken by a set of K's (and 7's)!!!!!!!


***** Hand History for Game 831686537 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - TUE AUG 10 15:59:05 EDT 2004
Table Table 14048 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: viper258 ( $17.90)
Seat 3: gutshot24 ( $43.70)
Seat 4: phantomdw2 ( $11.30)
Seat 5: ik88aw1 ( $46.05)
Seat 6: aneratergos ( $7.37)
ik88aw1 posts small blind (0.25)
aneratergos posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to aneratergos [ Ad, As ]
viper258 folds.
gutshot24 calls (0.50)
phantomdw2 calls (0.50)
ik88aw1 calls (0.25)
aneratergos raises (1.50) to 2
gutshot24 calls (1.50)
phantomdw2 calls (1.50)
ik88aw1 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 7d, Kc, 6h ]
aneratergos bets (5.37)
aneratergos is all-In.
gutshot24 raises (10.74) to 10.74
phantomdw2 calls (9.30)
phantomdw2 is all-In.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 4c ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 9c ]
Creating Main Pot with $21.51 with aneratergos
Creating Side Pot 1 with $7.46 with phantomdw2
** Summary **
Main Pot: $21.51 | Side Pot 1: $7.46 | Side Pot 2: $1.44 | Rake: $1.50
Board: [ 7d Kc 6h 4c 9c ]
viper258 balance $17.90, didn't bet (folded)
gutshot24 balance $32.40, bet $12.74, collected $1.44, lost -$11.30 [ 7c 7h ] [ three of a kind, sevens -- Kc,9c,7c,7h,7d ]
phantomdw2 balance $28.97, bet $11.30, collected $28.97, net +$17.67 [ Kh Kd ] [ three of a kind, kings -- Kh,Kd,Kc,9c,7d ]
ik88aw1 balance $45.55, lost $0.50 (folded)
aneratergos balance $0, lost $7.37 [ Ad As ] [ a pair of aces -- Ad,As,Kc,9c,7d ]