I have just gotten interested in NL Hold-em. After playing with Play Money at PartyPoker long enough to get a feel of the interface and game, I signed up with the Instant Bankroll thingy and am trying to make it through the necessary 500 raked hands with the $75.00. I started with $10NL then (After dropping $20) realized that I needed to back off to the $5NL (.02/.04) tables.

I am doing ok now, staying about where I was when I backed off to the micro limit tables. Since I won $20 playing at a home game last Friday, I consider myself 'even' overall!

One thing I noticed yesterday was that I was playing VERY tight, to the point of folding when I shouldn't, because I didn't want to lose another buy-in. Sort of a reverse tilt?

One example (sorry I don't have the hand history, but you'll get the idea.):

I was in middle position and drew pocket 2's and limped in to see the flop. And I was REALLY happy to see a 2 in the flop. The fact the other cards were KJ made me a bit worried. The flop was all different suits, so there was no flush potential. I raised a .08 bet to .16. The better re-raised to .24 and I chickened out and folded.

I know I should have stuck it out. Of course the fact that the 4th 2 appeared on the river didn't make me happier about my play.

Thoughts?

oh.. and Thanks for all the great information here!!