-Wrong to limp in with low pockets? I tend not to think so, because the implied value is so high, but that's me.
-The flop comes down, and it doesn't hit me--but does it hit him is the question?
-You say I made good value bets to keep him in. Let me ask a potentially newbie/stupid question. I played this hand AS IF I HAD MADE MY HAND. Isn't that what a bluff/semi-bluff is? If an opponent had made this bet against me, alarm bells would have been going off in my head. He/she is betting JUST ENOUGH for me to think about calling. A massive overbet screams (to me), I DON'T HAVE IT! A bet for value screams (to me) this person has a better hand than I do!
No it's not wrong to limp with low/mid pockets. It's the optimal strategy. You should not care if the flop hit him or not. That is your mistake. You have 22. The flop misses you. You know have the worst hand. Fold to any bet. Don't play guessing games. If the preflop raiser bets on the raggedy flop and you think he has AK, fold anyway. He is entitled to the pot when you miss. All guessing is going to do is cost you money. With a hand like 22, hit it or get the hell out of the hand.

Value bets are meant for people to call. You don't makes bets equal to value bets as a bluff. Sure a sophisticated player may read you as a value bettor and may fold, but at Party NL25 you are not playing against sophisticated players. Value bets get called. Reasonable bets get called. Overbets get called. EVERYTHING gets called. Go after them with a hand, SHOW them hands. And take their money.[/quote]