Know I screwed up last time around, hope to be better this time!(HH's inside)

Ok, been ages since I've been here, lol. So let me get right to the point:

First: I want to apologize to anyone who tried to help me out in the past. I was thinking you were just being rude asses, but instead you were truly trying to help me without all the sugar coat BS. I promise not to be so egotistical and arrogant this time 'round. I went through my old posts, and it's amazing how much of a DONK I was (and probably still am, lol!). I've been reading a lot and studying since then, and some of the moves I made back then were beyond awful. So, sorry.

Second: I'm back into the poker swing. This is my fourth day back. I started out with 19$ in my account (where I left it when I was an idiot at poker) and am (as of right now) sitting at 56.46$ and trying to grind out a quick 15 FPP so I can buy the 6$ cash credit for Micromania Celebration. I've been playing nothing but 2NL FR games and the occasional 1.10 DON (Mainly for the quick FPP).

Third: I've been noting some hands and how I play them. So I'm posting them for comment to get some insight from fellow (and better!) poker players. Thanks in advance for any comments and criticism (No matter how harsh they may be, lol).

Hand 1:

I know this isn't really a full hand, but I'm wondering if what I'm doing is a smart move or not. I've noticed at 2NL that A LOT of players are willing to raise or call a raise preflop but almost always check the flop when they miss. So even when I don't have a hand, I'll throw out a half pot bet, and take it down no problems. And the times I get called (or raised) I'll fold at the right time (Assuming I once again missed). This seems super effective at this level and has given me a great amount in cash (Vs. the time where they actually raise or call me)


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($2.17)
BB ($3.69)
UTG ($2.03)
UTG+1 ($2.95)
MP1 ($1.68)
MP2 ($3.08)
Hero (CO) ($2.97)
Button ($5.33)

Preflop: Hero is CO with http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/js.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/qc.gif
4 folds, Hero bets $0.08, Button calls $0.08, 2 folds

Flop: ($0.19) http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/kh.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/8c.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/8s.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $0.12, 1 fold

Total pot: $0.19 | Rake: $0

Results below:
Hero didn't show Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif.
Outcome: Hero won $0.19

Hand 2:

Preflop: Sitting on Aces on button. Awesome, i tend to open a bit wider here anyways, so if anyones paying attention, they'll think the same thing. Looking back on this hand, I kind of wish I'd have raised more than I did.... does anyone agree?

Flop: Saw a small bet, figured he might just be throwing it out, hoping everyone folds (kind of what I do in the above hand). Decided to raise the pot amount (.44 after his bet)

Turn: Since he checked, it seemed to me as if he was chasing a draw. I'm only sitting a pair, so I figure my best bet would be to get him out of the pot or at least make him pay for his draw. He chose to leave the pot.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($1.02)
UTG ($1.07)
UTG+1 ($0.75)
MP1 ($1.56)
MP2 ($4.97)
CO ($4.52)
Hero (Button) ($5.01)
SB ($1.31)

Preflop: Hero is Button with http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/ah.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/as.gif
UTG bets $0.04, 3 folds, CO calls $0.04, Hero raises to $0.10, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.06, CO calls $0.06

Flop: ($0.33) http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/3c.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/7h.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/5h.gif (3 players)
UTG checks, CO bets $0.12, Hero raises to $0.44, 1 fold, CO calls $0.32

Turn: ($1.21) http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/8s.gif (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $1.50, 1 fold

Total pot: $1.21 | Rake: $0.06

Results below:
Hero didn't show Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif.
Outcome: Hero won $1.15

Hand 3:

Preflop: Once again a question of "should I have raised more?". I remember UTG to be a very fishy player, so I didn't see him on AA.

Flop: With two checks to me, all low cards, and a flush draw, I decided to go ahead and try to take the pot down here. Any Arags would have me beat should one drop, and I really don't feel like letting someone get a flush cheap.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($4.86)
MP3 ($0.50)
CO ($7.26)
Button ($2.21)
SB ($1.16)
BB ($0.89)
UTG ($3.76)
Hero (UTG+1) ($3.28)
MP1 ($5.84)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/kh.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/kd.gif
UTG bets $0.04, Hero raises to $0.10, MP1 calls $0.10, 2 folds, CO calls $0.10, 2 folds, BB calls $0.08, UTG calls $0.06

Flop: ($0.51) http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/qc.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/3d.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/7d.gif (5 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $0.40, 4 folds

Total pot: $0.51 | Rake: $0.02

Results below:
Hero didn't show Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...es/diamond.gif.
Outcome: Hero won $0.49

Hand 4:

Preflop: The thought of a raise crossed my mind, but sitting in BB gave me horrible after flop position. So i figured for a cheap call I could "Go sets or go home" type of thing.

Flop: Hit the set. Don't know why I bet only 1/2 pot. Anyone with a draw would love me right then. I think a full pot bet should have been done here.

Turn: This is where I realized my draw mistake and attempted to make up for it. Almost full pot bet here. He simply min-raised my pot bet, which in my mind show'd me he was a bit scared to lose cash. I stopped and re-evaluated what he could have.... according to what i know about him, he didn't have AA,TT,55. Even thou he had possition, I highly doubt he'd call 105. So I put him on A10+,JJ+. He doesn't gamble much, so I couldn't see a flush draw being part of his range. So I shoved, figuring i was way ahead here.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($1.77)
Button ($2.02)
SB ($3.51)
Hero (BB) ($3.08)
UTG ($5.20)

Preflop: Hero is BB with http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/9c.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/9s.gif
1 fold, MP bets $0.06, Button calls $0.06, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.19) http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/ac.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/5c.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/9h.gif (3 players)
Hero bets $0.10, 1 fold, Button calls $0.10

Turn: ($0.39) http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/th.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $0.32, Button raises to $0.64, Hero raises to $2.92 (All-In), Button calls $1.22 (All-In)

River: ($4.11) http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...smilies/3d.gif (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $4.11 | Rake: $0.20

Results below:
Button had Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif (two pair, Aces and tens).
Hero had 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif (three of a kind, nines).
Outcome: Hero won $3.91


Final Thoughts:

Overall, I feel like I played these hands pretty well. Sitting here describing them made me realize a few mistakes, and I'm sure ya'll will notice MANY more, lol, but that why I posted them. I want to see what my mistakes are and what to do to correct them.

Thanks ahead of time ya'll.

Edit:

Figure I can show my graph here. It's a small sample size (only like 2k hands, if that). According to my Poker tracker, I'm running:
VP$IP: 13.65 PFR: 9.79 AFq: 59.95 W$WSF 49.63 Att To Steal: 25.75

http://a.yfrog.com/img829/3531/graph.jpg

Any comments or thoughts on my stats? (Besides the fact it's a low sample size.... I know this already)

tl;dr

inbefore someone asks for reads or stats

no but in all seriousness, a lot of the time your bet sizing is pretty awful. Like in the last hand theres so many Aces and flush draws in his range that he is going to be calling a lot more than half pot.

H1: well played. Loose passive players like seeing lots of flops...but then play fit or fold. Cbet relentlessly against them except on boards they likely hit (such as a T98 two toned).

H2: Definitely raise more pre. Against a single opponent, a general rule is 3x. A different rule might be 'make a pot sized raise', and another still would be raise enough so that villain cant set mine against us profitably. Whichever you choose, raising 2x to 5x when theres already caller is too small

Also, consider that typical 2nl players are calling stations pre

Flop: The reasons to bet/raise are to get either worse hands to call or better hands to fold. We are never doing it just because. In this instance, we're betting to get worse to call (7x, flush draw, straight draw etc).

Turn: again, we want worse hands call. Deliberately making a bet size so large that all worse hands fold and only better call is a huge mistake. Consider that you only need to bet like 1/2 pot on the flop and 1/3 on the turn to make it unprofitable for draws to continue.

H3: already talked about raise sizing here. 12c minimum, probably closer to 16 or more due to the tendancy of 2nl players of calling too much.

Flop: Again, we're betting to make worse hands call or better hands fold. Betting here is so that we get Qx or a flush draw to CALL or RAISE but certainly NEVER to fold. The bet itself is standard though your reasoning is bad.

H4: You need clear reads in order to do anything but call here. Although, 99 will be the winner alot anyway so we might not necessarily only call for set odds.

Flop: I can go either way. Betting out is great because we dont want it to be checked around. Checking is great because we expect a cbet from villain which can more easily be called by the btn compared to a bet from us and a raise from villain. I think i prefer betting out more.

Bet size: when worse does call, we want them to make the biggest possible mistake when they do. If a flushdarw will call a psb, then bet the pot. If a Ax hand would call a large bet, then bet large. 1/2 potting when we're value betting is almost always a mistake at 2nl just cuz so few hands react differently to a large bet compared to a small one.

Turn bet: Thats more like it. But again, its because we expect a call. When we're raised he can only have AA or TT to beat us. AA is pretty unlikely cuz he called pre, and TT would have had to slow play a board with a flush draw on it. This is a draw or a two pair alot imo, and its a pretty easy shove.

NOTE: for future hands, try to be much more descriptive with villains. If you have a HUD, give stats. Otherwise, at least give reads like "limp calls alot" or 'raises more than usual" or at least something like "is a LAG, TAG, loosepassive" etc. At 2nl, most players are these loose passive types so i can freely generalize about the decision to make...but there are regs that play a tag style and playing the same vs one as you would the other is a definite mistake.

pretty much agree w/ everything JKDS said cept in hand 4 I'm never 3bing 99 or folding 99 here so Iunno why u'd mention doing anything but. The overcaller would have to be prettyyyyyyyyyyy horrible for me to consider 3bing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philly and the phanatics

no but in all seriousness, a lot of the time your bet sizing is pretty awful. Like in the last hand theres so many Aces and flush draws in his range that he is going to be calling a lot more than half pot.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by JKDS

Turn: again, we want worse hands call. Deliberately making a bet size so large that all worse hands fold and only better call is a huge mistake.

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First, thanks to both of you, definitly given me some insight and I see where ya'll are coming from (and here I was hoping that I'd finally gotten bet sizing down, lol). But one of the things that I'm hitting a block is: One of you is telling me my bet sizing is awful because draws will still be calling, but the other person says we want these worse hands to call and not to make the bet too big because then we only get the better hands to call....... see where I'm a little confused here? lol.

Could someone please clear that up for my dense head.

Also: I knew someone would ding me about not having stats on villian lol. I was two tabling (I know I know.... not supposed to... but when I only 1-table, I get ADD and start browsing the internet.... 2 tables keep me focused on just poker) and so I was clicking my hand history button and just copy pasting. Didn't have time to write down villian stats and my version of poker tracker doesn't have "mark hand for later review" (using an old version... will be upgrading when i can drop 90 bucks).

Once again, thanks so much for the break down JKDS.

EDIT:

I added my stats and graph to the bottom of my first post. Care to give any input on that? Maybe I need to raise my PFR or what not? Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheMaverik91

One of you is telling me my bet sizing is awful because draws will still be calling, but the other person says we want these worse hands to call and not to make the bet too big because then we only get the better hands to call....... see where I'm a little confused here? lol.

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Well, my comment you quoted was for hand 2, and philly's was for hand 4.

True true..... I was thinking in terms of general poker, and not per hand basis.... my bad.

Well...

When we bet we ALWAYS want worse hands to call/continue and better hands to fold. Thats just because of the Fundamental Theorem of Poker.

However, notice the differences in hand strength between hand 2 and hand 4. How many possible better hands are there in H2? In H4?

Also notice the difference between how many worse hands are willing to call a large bet. You could say that the fraction of 'worse hands' / 'better hands' is much larger in H4 than in H2 right?

Also, consider the difference between a pot sized bet that is 10 big blinds, and a pot sized bet that is 75 big blinds. Surely this has an impact as well.

this is probably going to be pretty similar to other posts so i'll try not to make it too long
H1) seems fine
H2) raise more pre especially because the caller, I like the flop and turn if you have a read on villain that he's going to be calling these overbets with draws/small pairs/overcards.
H3) raise atleast 12c pre, only other thing about this hand is I don't like your reasoning for c-betting.
H4) I like checking this flop if villain will cbet this flop frequently because I think we'll often get more value from the btn with a c/r line. donking is fine, but I think our bet does have to be larger to get more value from draws (they're probably going to play their hands the same whether or not our bet is 10c or 18c), and to build the pot to get max value from top pair type hands on later streets w/out overbetting.

soooooo pretty much everything jkds said