Beginner's Troubles! Any tips appreciated

Hi,

Firstly, happy new year for those whom it is =)

I'm a beginner, and just starting to get the hang of NLHE after having some success at $10-$20 SNGS. Please correct me if I misuse some terms.

Just FYI, prior to last night's action (take into consideration that I'm a beginner with not a whole lot of experience), I think I've never been beat in a hand where I've been significantly ahead preflop and postflop (I'm talking about never losing with pocket aces, flopping a straight/flush etc.).

I would be considered as tight-aggressive when compared to my regular posse.

There were 2 hands in particular that I would like to share.

So, to get into it, I started off in a $10 NLHE SNG, starting with 1000 in chips. Playing tight until I got pocket sixes on the button, and decided to raise it to 120 with the blinds at 20/40. I got 2 callers. Flop came [2c, 8c, 6h], and I had hit my set. CO raised to 300, CO+1 called, I put both the CO and CO+1 on pair of eights on a flush draw, and went all for about 1000, not wanting any flush draws to call. CO folded, CO+1 called for 300 being shortstacked. She showed pocket threes with no flush draw. Turn came [4d], river came [5d], making her straight. Her birthday surprise look made it clear that it wasn't expected. I felt I took it well, somewhat proud that I experienced a loss holding what I was almost certain was the winning hand. I was shortstacked after this, but not by much. Still in okay shape.

I continued to play tight, wary of the tilt phenomenon, and got dealt pocket kings a little later, UTG. I raised 400 with the blinds at 40/80. I got 1 caller. Flop came [Jd, Ac, 2c]. The ace is scaring me, but I ask the guy if he has the ace and he responds in the affirmative, almost immediately. From that response, my gut told me he was on a bluff, I go all in, he takes a minute to call. He flips over [Jc, Tc]. Turn comes [8h], river comes [4c], giving him the flush. Again I felt I took it well, feeling I had made the correct read, and the correct play from the read. I was left with 80 in chips, but got lucky a few times and took 2nd place.

Any tips for a star-eyed beginner? Anything I could have done better? Anything info I missed out that would help give a better analysis? Please let me know!

Thanks!

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Her birthday surprise look made it clear that it wasn't expected.

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lol was this a live home game?

how many chips did you have with the blinds at 40/80 and dealt KK? stack sizes are of huge importance, esp in a tourney. just asking, because it might have been better to just push all-in preflop rather than put in 50% of your chips then folding when the A comes. Also don't rely so much on information you gain by asking them questions. That being said, the weak = strong and strong = weak tell is pretty common at these home games, though.

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Just FYI, prior to last night's action (take into consideration that I'm a beginner with not a whole lot of experience), I think I've never been beat in a hand where I've been significantly ahead preflop and postflop (I'm talking about never losing with pocket aces, flopping a straight/flush etc.).

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lol. welcome to poker. they were both horrible beats and you got your money in ahead - that's basically all there is really to winning.

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I was left with 80 in chips, but got lucky a few times and took 2nd place.

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Congrats!

Hi eugmac,

Yes this was a home game. One of our many gambling sessions for Chinese New Year =)

I was shortstacked when I was dealt KK, don't remember my exact chipcount but it was definitely 800+, pushing all in was probably my best choice. Thanks!

Thanks for the congrats. By the way, we played a $20 SNG after that and I took 1st. Regardless of some bad beats I had, I feel encouraged by my progress and hoping I can improve with the great advisors on this forum =)

And thanks for the quick reply!

CO means the seat one off the button, so CO+1 is basically the button itself ;)

U played the hands okay, getting ur money in good and backing off when behind is whats poker is all about. Dont concentrate on winning pots, aim at winning money in the long run.

Your reasoning for getting it in with 666 is wrong btw.
In general u dont want flush draws to fold. Its always good to win a pot right there, but essentially we want weaker hands to CALL, thats how we make money. Read about pot odds theory and make sure your opposition is getting a bad price to draw to their flush and you´ll take their money soon ;)

Hi and welcome to FTR, it's good to have you here! Gong Hei Fatt Choy or Xin Nian Kuai Le, whichever you prefer!

Not tilting is the #1 thing is those situations, so you're doing well there. Welcome to FTR - keep posting hands and keep looking through the stickies. You'll quickly leave the "newbie" days behind you.

Good luck at the tables.