My big guess is that villains at 2NL will call or fold the same range regardless of your bet sizing. They're just not sophisticated enough to notice the difference, or if they are, they're not sophisticated enough to know how to respond in such a manner as to improve their ranges.

So by betting smaller to encourage them to call wider... all you did was bet smaller, and they called the exact same range.
That's my guess.


Ask yourself. You're sitting at a game, and someone at the table who you think is a decent player starts throwing 1/3 PSB's at you OTF. How do you respond live in the moment?
Is it balanced? Does it take your actual ranges into account, or are you making quick guesses based on individual hand strength in the moment?

Probably all the latter. It's not easy to adjust to new game play on the fly. Responding to the familiar is always easier. It's not until after you've spent some time away from the tables studying that new thing that you're actually prepared to respond to in in the moment, IMO.