Online Poker Journal

[st.cronin]

The purpose of this thread is to track my development online. Right now I feel stronger in cash games than I am in tournaments. I have a pretty good idea which hands to play, and have some ability to read opponents.

I am pretty much still a rank beginner, although I have had some nice moments. I have read Hellmuth's book and a variety of columns by other authors. I've gotten good pointers here from Lathum and hoopsguy.

I will be playing on pokerstars as st.cronin.

[st.cronin]

Out on the bubble in a 1.20 tourney. Called an all in with J 10 and a board of J 8 x, lost to A J. Probably a dumb call - table play at that point is likely to be tight.

[st.cronin]

Another bubble burst. Pushed all in preflop with KK, lost to AQ.

[st.cronin]

Also, getting waxed in a .05/.10 cash game. It seems like every time I get a good hand, either I get no action or no flop. Just bleeding quarters right now.

[st.cronin]

Typical hand from my early disasters in the cash game:

Dealt to st.cronin [3h Ah]
sebixxx: folds
TONGRFF: folds
Johnnyboy926: folds
TaxDatAce: folds
Zergoh1432: folds
ziggyzaooo: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.10 to $0.20
Tokkotai: raises $0.40 to $0.60
DreamSS: folds
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.40) returned to Tokkotai
Tokkotai collected $0.50 from pot
Tokkotai: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.50 | Rake $0
Seat 1: st.cronin (button) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Tokkotai (small blind) collected ($0.50)
Seat 3: DreamSS (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: sebixxx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: TONGRFF folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Johnnyboy926 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: TaxDatAce folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Zergoh1432 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ziggyzaooo folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[st.cronin]

Pretty pleased with this hand:

PokerStars Game #18532529690: Tournament #94196294, $1.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/07/02 - 14:20:54 (ET)
Table '94196294 1' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: martinus1987 (1825 in chips)
Seat 2: Astra84 (1695 in chips)
Seat 3: pok3sensei (1835 in chips)
Seat 4: tincan1983 (1195 in chips)
Seat 5: sciosoccer (3080 in chips)
Seat 6: fcarpentier (1295 in chips)
Seat 9: st.cronin (2575 in chips)
pok3sensei: posts small blind 25
tincan1983: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ah 5h]
sciosoccer: folds
fcarpentier: folds
st.cronin: calls 50
martinus1987: folds
Astra84: calls 50
pok3sensei: folds
tincan1983: checks
*** FLOP *** [Kc 5s 5c]
tincan1983: checks
st.cronin: bets 50
Astra84: folds
tincan1983: calls 50
*** TURN *** [Kc 5s 5c] [4s]
tincan1983: checks
st.cronin: bets 100
tincan1983: calls 100
*** RIVER *** [Kc 5s 5c 4s] [As]
tincan1983: checks
st.cronin: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tincan1983: shows [6c 7c] (a pair of Fives)
st.cronin: shows [Ah 5h] (a full house, Fives full of Aces)
st.cronin collected 475 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 475 | Rake 0
Board [Kc 5s 5c 4s As]
Seat 1: martinus1987 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Astra84 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: pok3sensei (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: tincan1983 (big blind) showed [6c 7c] and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 5: sciosoccer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: fcarpentier folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: st.cronin showed [Ah 5h] and won (475) with a full house, Fives full of Aces

[Subby]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Pretty pleased with this hand

Pleased with the result or how you played it?

[hoopsguy]

On the Ah3h hand, why not take a flop at that point? You have position (other guy is SB), and if you hit a flush, straight, or two pair he might pay you off big in the event that he has a big ace.

You liked the hand enough to raise it - correctly, I think from button against two blinds - so I think you should see a flop a good amount of the time in that scenario. I think you lose small pots and potentially win big pots in this spot.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Subby

Pleased with the result or how you played it?

Mostly the result, but I think I played it right, too. I guess the check on the end could be questioned.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

On the Ah3h hand, why not take a flop at that point? You have position (other guy is SB), and if you hit a flush, straight, or two pair he might pay you off big in the event that he has a big ace.

You liked the hand enough to raise it - correctly, I think from button against two blinds - so I think you should see a flop a good amount of the time in that scenario. I think you lose small pots and potentially win big pots in this spot.

That is my biggest trouble spot right now, playing a marginal hand AFTER the flop. You're probably correct, and a flush would be the best possible outcome. But a rainbow flop of, say, A 10 6, I wouldn't have any idea what to do.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Mostly the result, but I think I played it right, too. I guess the check on the end could be questioned.

That would have been my question to you on that hand given how things played out. Given the final hands I can't imagine you would have gotten much more out of him, but still worth a shot.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Travis

That would have been my question to you on that hand given how things played out. Given the final hands I can't imagine you would have gotten much more out of him, but still worth a shot.

Yeah, I figured a check might make him wonder if *I* was on a flush draw, and maybe conclude that some kind of power bet would win the pot. I guessed that any bet I made he would fold.

[st.cronin]

This is actually my second win in one of these:

PokerStars Tournament #94196294, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $1.00/$0.20
9 players
Total Prize Pool: $9.00
Tournament started - 2008/07/02 - 13:55:10 (ET)

Dear st.cronin,

You finished the tournament in 1st place.
A $4.50 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

You earned 45 Sit & Go Leader Board Points for the Mercury Division in this tournament.
For more information about our Sit & Go Leader Boards, see our website at
http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/battle/


Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.

[Subby]

I think you played every street wrong, I guess other folks might disagree.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Subby

I think you played every street wrong, I guess other folks might disagree.

I welcome your input and advice.

[Subby]

Well I am not crazy about open limping a hand like ace-runt from middle position. You are going to be out of position the rest of the hand against god-knows-what-else. Open raise!

On the flop you have a good hand and I like betting here, but there is a flush draw on the board and you need to make a larger bet to get an idea about what your opponent might have. Your bet was so small that it's hard to tell *what* the other player has.

On the turn there are TWO flush draws on the board. Now you have to make a pot sized bet or more or you are just encouraging your opponent to draw out on you. You make less than a half sized bet instead and of course your opponent is going to call.

River card gives you a boat and makes one of the flushes.

You bet here. You have a boat. Pray your opponent made their flush.

[sabotai]

I agree with what Subby said, although I would have probably tossed the hand preflop.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Subby

Well I am not crazy about open limping a hand like ace-runt from middle position. You are going to be out of position the rest of the hand against god-knows-what-else. Open raise!

This I agree with, and that was a bit of an odd move for me. I'll defend it by saying I like to mix my play up, to confuse anybody who might be paying attention to how I play different hands.

Your other comments are well taken.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by sabotai

I agree with what Subby said, although I would have probably tossed the hand preflop.

Nah - that's a solid starting hand at a seven-person table.

FWIW - the openlimp isn't horrible or anything - it isn't like the blinds were huge. Just putting yourself in a tough spot (potentially) later on...

[digamma]

I like open limping with small suited aces, particularly in relatively early stages of sit-n-go's. They are hands I want to get in and see a flop cheaply with. I'm not necessarily playing that hand to hit the A, but to hit a big hand, so I want to get in cheap and get away from it if I need to.

After that, I agree with everything Subby wrote.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Subby

Nah - that's a solid starting hand at a seven-person table.

I didn't notice it was down to 7.

I probably still would have tossed, but then again, I'm not nearly as good as you.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by sabotai

I probably still would have tossed, but then again, I'm not nearly as good as you.

Ok now you're just being ridiculous.

[st.cronin]

The family of A 4throughJ hands give me fits, in all honesty. If I don't hit a big flop (2 pairs or better), I never know what to do.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

That is my biggest trouble spot right now, playing a marginal hand AFTER the flop. You're probably correct, and a flush would be the best possible outcome. But a rainbow flop of, say, A 10 6, I wouldn't have any idea what to do.

or worse A J 3 and he has ace jack and you get crushed.

Stay away from calling bets with weak aces. In the long run you will lose more then you win between chasing flushes and being outkicked.

And even if you hit the flush, most of the time you wont get paid.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Subby

Nah - that's a solid starting hand at a seven-person table.

FWIW - the openlimp isn't horrible or anything - it isn't like the blinds were huge. Just putting yourself in a tough spot (potentially) later on...

I wouldn't go as far as to say solid.

I would say playable.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by Lathum

or worse A J 3 and he has ace jack and you get crushed.

Stay away from calling bets with weak aces. In the long run you will lose more then you win between chasing flushes and being outkicked.

And even if you hit the flush, most of the time you wont get paid.

That's certainly a safe rule to follow in cash games. In single table sit & go's, however, the name of the game is to double up, particularly in the early to middle stages. Small suited aces provide an opportunity to do just that when you hit a big hand. Certainly, this requires some discipline to throw away the hand when you suspect you are outkicked, but when you do hit your hand, the chance to double up is often worth getting into the hand.

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by digamma

That's certainly a safe rule to follow in cash games. In single table sit & go's, however, the name of the game is to double up, particularly in the early to middle stages. Small suited aces provide an opportunity to do just that when you hit a big hand. Certainly, this requires some discipline to throw away the hand when you suspect you are outkicked, but when you do hit your hand, the chance to double up is often worth getting into the hand.

Yep, this is the point I meant to make earlier. I think you lose quite a few small pots on the flop but have the chance to win some big pots at the river. If you are already in for the pre-flop raise then I think you call the re-raise from the SB most of the time to see if you get a flop where he'll end up pushing you a lot more than $0.40.

[st.cronin]

This seems to happen to me a lot:

*********** # 7 **************
PokerStars Game #18539152333: Tournament #94228047, $1.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/07/02 - 19:16:16 (ET)
Table '94228047 1' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 2: st.cronin (3960 in chips)
Seat 5: moneybeacher (7055 in chips)
Seat 9: slkcards (2485 in chips)
st.cronin: posts small blind 100
moneybeacher: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ah 3c]
slkcards: folds
st.cronin: raises 200 to 400
moneybeacher: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [Kd 5d 9s]
st.cronin: checks
moneybeacher: bets 400
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet (400) returned to moneybeacher
moneybeacher collected 800 from pot
moneybeacher: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 800 | Rake 0
Board [Kd 5d 9s]
Seat 2: st.cronin (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: moneybeacher (big blind) collected (800)
Seat 9: slkcards (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

And here's a hand I'm embarrassed to post:


*********** # 7 **************
PokerStars Game #18544596029: Hold'em No Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/07/02 - 23:47:30 (ET)
Table 'Ostara' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: juliasellstx ($11.59 in chips)
Seat 2: Shal152 ($2.68 in chips)
Seat 3: AJR79 ($4.57 in chips)
Seat 4: SilverFerret ($2.83 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($5.95 in chips)
Seat 7: kuszo ($12.20 in chips)
Seat 8: MLevinson ($5.95 in chips)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude ($0.65 in chips)
SilverFerret: posts small blind $0.02
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.05
dongyooni: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [6h 4c]
kuszo: folds
MLevinson: folds
Cherokeedude: calls $0.05
juliasellstx: calls $0.05
Shal152: folds
AJR79: calls $0.05
SilverFerret: calls $0.03
st.cronin: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qc 6d 4d]
SilverFerret: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.10
Cherokeedude: calls $0.10
juliasellstx: folds
AJR79: calls $0.10
SilverFerret: calls $0.10
*** TURN *** [Qc 6d 4d] [Qd]
SilverFerret: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.30
Cherokeedude: raises $0.20 to $0.50 and is all-in
AJR79: folds
SilverFerret: folds
st.cronin: calls $0.20
*** RIVER *** [Qc 6d 4d Qd] [2h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
st.cronin: shows [6h 4c] (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
Cherokeedude: shows [Qs Ts] (three of a kind, Queens)
Cherokeedude collected $1.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.65 | Rake $0.05
Board [Qc 6d 4d Qd 2h]
Seat 1: juliasellstx folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Shal152 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: AJR79 (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 4: SilverFerret (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: st.cronin (big blind) showed [6h 4c] and lost with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 7: kuszo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: MLevinson folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude showed [Qs Ts] and won ($1.60) with three of a kind, Queens


Most of the pots I win, at least in tourneys, go something like this (I rarely win hands in low-level cash games without a showdown):

PokerStars Game #18544631892: Hold'em No Limit ($0.02/$0.05) - 2008/07/02 - 23:49:29 (ET)
Table 'Ostara' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: juliasellstx ($11.54 in chips)
Seat 2: Shal152 ($2.68 in chips)
Seat 3: AJR79 ($4.49 in chips)
Seat 4: SilverFerret ($2.68 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($5.28 in chips)
Seat 6: dongyooni ($9.95 in chips)
Seat 7: kuszo ($12.20 in chips)
Seat 8: MLevinson ($5.95 in chips)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude ($1.60 in chips)
dongyooni: posts small blind $0.02
kuszo: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [9d 9c]
MLevinson: folds
Cherokeedude: folds
juliasellstx: calls $0.05
Shal152: folds
AJR79: calls $0.05
SilverFerret: calls $0.05
st.cronin: raises $0.15 to $0.20
dongyooni: folds
kuszo: folds
juliasellstx: folds
AJR79: calls $0.15
SilverFerret: folds
*** FLOP *** [8d 2s Ts]
AJR79: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.25
AJR79: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.25) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $0.57 from pot
st.cronin: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.57 | Rake $0
Board [8d 2s Ts]
Seat 1: juliasellstx folded before Flop
Seat 2: Shal152 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: AJR79 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: SilverFerret folded before Flop
Seat 5: st.cronin (button) collected ($0.57)
Seat 6: dongyooni (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: kuszo (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: MLevinson folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Cherokeedude folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[sabotai]

The first hand: Raise more than that. You should have raise to at least 600, but probably to 800 or 1000 would have been better.

The second hand: Postflop, bet more than that. Your bet was less than half the pot and you have a flush draw on the table with you holding two pair. Bet $0.25 there (bet the pot). The guy with the pair of queens probably still would have called and you still would have lost to his set. That's just bad luck.

Your bet on the turn was fine. The third suited card came up and you needed to know if someone got their flush or has a queen to make a set. If you check and everyone else checks, or someone puts out a small bet, you learn nothing. He pushes all-in, but since it's just $0.20 more for you to call the guy who pushed, it's a no-brainer call at that point.

The third hand: Pretty good, but again a possible flush draw comes out on the flop and you make a bet that would give someone the odds to call.

The biggest problem I see in your game is that you aren't betting high enough. If you are going to play a lot of No Limit, you need to start betting based on how big the pot is. You seem to just bet the minimum or with a minimum raise. You're asking for trouble betting like that in No Limit.

[Subby]

Hand 1: Push preflop. If you are just going to raise, however, you have to raise 3xbb and make a continuation bet on the flop. I still like the push preflop though.

Hand 2: On the turn you had outs, the guy could have had anything, you have to call for one more bet, blah blah blah. Bet more on the flop.

Hand 3: Bet more on the flop.

See a pattern here?

Small bets give your opponents odds to call. You want to make it mathematically incorrect for them to do so. Bet bigger.

[st.cronin]

Lesson learned:

PokerStars Game #18583350294: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/04 - 17:02:53 (ET)
Table 'Ibarruri' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: pfogel4 ($1.70 in chips)
Seat 2: kjelhopper ($10 in chips)
Seat 3: kink2007 ($2.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Ralik ($14.55 in chips)
Seat 5: forksmuggler ($4.95 in chips)
Seat 6: Brutii II ($10.40 in chips)
Seat 7: Teufel669966 ($2 in chips)
Seat 9: st.cronin ($6 in chips)
forksmuggler: posts small blind $0.05
Brutii II: posts big blind $0.10
Teufel669966: posts big blind $0.10
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [2d 7c]
Teufel669966: checks
st.cronin: checks
pfogel4: folds
kjelhopper: folds
kink2007: raises $0.10 to $0.20
Ralik: folds
forksmuggler: calls $0.15
Brutii II: calls $0.10
Teufel669966: calls $0.10
st.cronin: calls $0.10
*** FLOP *** [7d 2c Ad]
monnis joins the table at seat #8
forksmuggler: checks
Brutii II: checks
Teufel669966: checks
monnis is sitting out
st.cronin: bets $1
monnis has returned
kink2007: folds
forksmuggler: folds
Brutii II: calls $1
Teufel669966: folds
*** TURN *** [7d 2c Ad] [7s]
Brutii II: checks
st.cronin: bets $3
Brutii II: folds
Uncalled bet ($3) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $2.90 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3 | Rake $0.10
Board [7d 2c Ad 7s]
Seat 1: pfogel4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: kjelhopper folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: kink2007 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Ralik (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: forksmuggler (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Brutii II (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 7: Teufel669966 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: st.cronin collected ($2.90)

[Subby]

Not sure you need to overbet the pot there on the turn. You have the best hand and this isn't the time to be pricing the guy out.

Be interested to hear what other folks think.

[st.cronin]

This still seems to happen to me a lot:

PokerStars Game #18598339702: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 10:47:01 (ET)
Table 'Magdalena' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: erto13 ($11.80 in chips)
Seat 2: st.cronin ($6.10 in chips)
Seat 3: R3DD3V1L5 ($7.80 in chips)
Seat 4: wingshooter2 ($7.55 in chips)
Seat 7: kccrouch ($9.90 in chips)
Seat 8: vbender ($9.75 in chips)
Seat 9: hopla67 ($10.60 in chips)
st.cronin: posts small blind $0.05
R3DD3V1L5: posts big blind $0.10
Qui Gon113: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [9c 9d]
wingshooter2: calls $0.10
kccrouch: folds
vbender: folds
hopla67: folds
erto13: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.20 to $0.30
R3DD3V1L5: folds
wingshooter2: calls $0.20
*** FLOP *** [Qs 2h Ts]
st.cronin: checks
wingshooter2: checks
*** TURN *** [Qs 2h Ts] [5c]
st.cronin: checks
wingshooter2: bets $0.30
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.30) returned to wingshooter2
wingshooter2 collected $0.70 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $0.70 | Rake $0
Board [Qs 2h Ts 5c]
Seat 1: erto13 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: st.cronin (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: R3DD3V1L5 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: wingshooter2 collected ($0.70)
Seat 7: kccrouch folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: vbender folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: hopla67 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[Subby]

Why check the flop after raising preflop? Odds are he didn't hit his hand.

[st.cronin]

What kind of odds? I see two overcards to my top pair, don't I have to assume I don't have the best hand?

edit: I have been finding that it can be very costly to bet with a middling hand.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18599251313: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 11:42:21 (ET)
Table 'Apisaon III' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: duanerb ($7.50 in chips)
Seat 2: tercet ($9.90 in chips)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK ($4.80 in chips)
Seat 4: MidnightTv ($9.85 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($13.25 in chips)
Seat 6: Rodia ($2.85 in chips)
Seat 7: max1773 ($8.50 in chips)
Seat 8: Vstelt ($6.20 in chips)
tercet: posts small blind $0.05
ALAIN STOCK: posts big blind $0.10
awishformore: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Jd Jc]
MidnightTv: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.20 to $0.30
Rodia: folds
max1773: folds
Vstelt: folds
duanerb: calls $0.30
tercet: folds
ALAIN STOCK: folds
*** FLOP *** [As 7s 6c]
st.cronin: bets $0.50
duanerb: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [As 7s 6c] [Qc]
st.cronin: checks
duanerb: bets $1
st.cronin: folds
Uncalled bet ($1) returned to duanerb
duanerb collected $1.70 from pot
duanerb: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1.75 | Rake $0.05
Board [As 7s 6c Qc]
Seat 1: duanerb (button) collected ($1.70)
Seat 2: tercet (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: MidnightTv folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: st.cronin folded on the Turn
Seat 6: Rodia folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: max1773 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Vstelt folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[hoopsguy]

Last hand:
Two checks to him is basically asking him to bet and take the pot away from you. The chances of an opponent hitting the flop is about 33%. You've already shown strength pre-flop with a bet. More often than not you should be following a pre-flop raise with a bet on the flop, even if you miss. Particularly on a flop where there is no A or K, the cards most likely to be in your opponent's hand when he is calling a raise.

If you think you opponent is good enough to flat call your pre-flop raise and take it away from you on the turn, then maybe this isn't the ideal opponent to be playing against at this level. There are plenty of bad players at this limit who will either call down with the worst of it or fold to your aggression on the flop.

Full House (72off):
I agree with Subby that putting a big bet out on the turn with a full boat isn't likely to be your best way to make money. The advice on putting in bigger bets (pre-flop and on flop) is when you are trying to define your opponent's holdings, or take down the pot right there. Minimum bets are pricing your opponents in to call and catch up against your better holdings.

A pot sized bet on the turn in this hand doesn't give him the right odds to chase a flush, which you beat. It doesn't give him the right odds to chase with a marginal ace when the board has paired - he only has two outs in that spot. So you want hands that you crush to find a call in that spot. I think a bet of $1.50 (1/2 pot) is more likely to get action there.

[hoopsguy]

JJ hand - yeah, that is why people have such a hard time with jacks. Pretty standard play by you on that one. Your bet sizes are more appropriate than the hands you were posting earlier.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18599537488: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 11:59:10 (ET)
Table 'Apisaon III' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: duanerb ($8.10 in chips)
Seat 2: tercet ($10.80 in chips)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK ($4.90 in chips)
Seat 4: MidnightTv ($11 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($11.65 in chips)
Seat 6: Rodia ($5.30 in chips)
Seat 7: max1773 ($8.40 in chips)
Seat 8: Vstelt ($5.45 in chips)
Seat 9: awishformore ($11.75 in chips)
MidnightTv: posts small blind $0.05
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ah Jd]
Rodia: calls $0.10
max1773: calls $0.10
Vstelt: folds
awishformore: folds
duanerb: folds
tercet: calls $0.10
ALAIN STOCK: calls $0.10
MidnightTv: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.40 to $0.50
Rodia: calls $0.40
max1773: folds
tercet: calls $0.40
ALAIN STOCK: calls $0.40
*** FLOP *** [Td 2s Th]
st.cronin: bets $2
Rodia: folds
tercet: folds
ALAIN STOCK: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $2.05 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.15 | Rake $0.10
Board [Td 2s Th]
Seat 1: duanerb folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: tercet folded on the Flop
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: MidnightTv (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: st.cronin (big blind) collected ($2.05)
Seat 6: Rodia folded on the Flop
Seat 7: max1773 folded before Flop
Seat 8: Vstelt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: awishformore folded before Flop (didn't bet)

edit: In retrospect that was probably way too reckless a play. I tend to assume that if, for example, I see two 10s on the flop, that the likelihood of somebody holding another 10 is low. I am not sure how well math bears that out.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18599784921: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 12:13:20 (ET)
Table 'Apisaon III' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: duanerb ($7.60 in chips)
Seat 2: tercet ($12.20 in chips)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK ($10.80 in chips)
Seat 4: macks123 ($6.10 in chips)
Seat 5: st.cronin ($11.90 in chips)
Seat 6: Rodia ($3.70 in chips)
Seat 7: dap3529 ($5.90 in chips)
Seat 8: Vstelt ($4.65 in chips)
Seat 9: awishformore ($10 in chips)
macks123: posts small blind $0.05
st.cronin: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [5h Ah]
Rodia: folds
dap3529: folds
Vstelt: calls $0.10
awishformore: folds
duanerb: calls $0.10
tercet: folds
ALAIN STOCK: calls $0.10
macks123: calls $0.05
st.cronin: checks
*** FLOP *** [Jh Qd 5d]
macks123: checks
st.cronin: bets $0.50
Vstelt: raises $0.50 to $1
duanerb: folds
ALAIN STOCK: folds
macks123: folds
st.cronin: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [Jh Qd 5d] [3h]
st.cronin: bets $2
Vstelt: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [Jh Qd 5d 3h] [9h]
st.cronin: bets $2.50
Vstelt: calls $1.55 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.95) returned to st.cronin
*** SHOW DOWN ***
st.cronin: shows [5h Ah] (a flush, Ace high)
Vstelt: mucks hand
st.cronin collected $9.15 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9.60 | Rake $0.45
Board [Jh Qd 5d 3h 9h]
Seat 1: duanerb folded on the Flop
Seat 2: tercet folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ALAIN STOCK (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: macks123 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: st.cronin (big blind) showed [5h Ah] and won ($9.15) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 6: Rodia folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: dap3529 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Vstelt mucked [Ac Qc]
Seat 9: awishformore folded before Flop (didn't bet)

[st.cronin]

PokerStars Game #18604686665: Hold'em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) - 2008/07/05 - 16:11:16 (ET)
Table 'Suttung IV' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: DreamSS ($13.10 in chips)
Seat 2: Sven147 ($9.70 in chips)
Seat 3: pikachu808 ($11.55 in chips)
Seat 4: ChuckFlorris ($7.65 in chips)
Seat 6: DreamKai ($11.40 in chips)
Seat 7: XxStacks60xX ($10 in chips)
Seat 8: tigerhood84 ($11.10 in chips)
Seat 9: st.cronin ($6.35 in chips)
DreamSS: posts small blind $0.05
Sven147: posts big blind $0.10
ilovesomuchh: sits out
XxStacks60xX: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to st.cronin [Ts Tc]
pikachu808: folds
ChuckFlorris: folds
DreamKai: folds
XxStacks60xX: checks
tigerhood84: folds
st.cronin: raises $0.25 to $0.35
DreamSS: folds
Sven147: calls $0.25
XxStacks60xX: folds
*** FLOP *** [8h Ks 4d]
Sven147: bets $0.60
st.cronin: calls $0.60
*** TURN *** [8h Ks 4d] [Kd]
Sven147: checks
st.cronin: bets $2
Sven147: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to st.cronin
st.cronin collected $1.95 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.05 | Rake $0.10
Board [8h Ks 4d Kd]
Seat 1: DreamSS (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Sven147 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: pikachu808 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ChuckFlorris folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: DreamKai folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: XxStacks60xX folded before Flop
Seat 8: tigerhood84 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: st.cronin (button) collected ($1.95)

[primelord]

FWIW it would be nice if you converted your hand histories into something more readable. Hand history dumps suck. I'll comment on your 3 hands and convert them so you have a link to a converter to use.

[primelord]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP3 ($8.10)
CO ($10.80)
Button ($4.90)
SB ($11)
st.cronin ($11.65)
UTG ($5.30)
UTG+1 ($8.40)
MP1 ($5.45)
MP2 ($11.75)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with Ah, Jd.
UTG calls $0.10, UTG+1 calls $0.10, 3 folds, CO calls $0.10, Button calls $0.10, 1 fold, st.cronin raises to $0.5, UTG calls $0.40, UTG+1 folds, CO calls $0.40, Button calls $0.40.

Flop: ($2.25) Td, 2s, Th (4 players)
st.cronin bets $2, UTG folds, CO folds, Button folds.

Final Pot: $2.25


Pre-flop I don't think you raised enough. You are out of position and have a hand that you do not want to play a multiway pot with. The "general rule" is 4xBB + 1 for each limper. A raise to .80 or more would be better in this spot. If you can take down all those limps without a flop that is a good result for you.

After the flop I think you played it fine. The flop bet was maybe a little big. On a dry board like that you can accomplish the same thing with 1/2 to 2/3 pot sized bet without as much risk. A pot bet isn't horrible though. If you get floated there though warning bells better be going off.

[primelord]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP3 ($7.60)
CO ($12.20)
Button ($10.80)
SB ($6.10)
st.cronin ($11.90)
UTG ($3.70)
UTG+1 ($5.90)
MP1 ($4.65)
MP2 ($10)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with 5h, Ah.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.10, 1 fold, MP3 calls $0.10, 1 fold, Button calls $0.10, SB completes, st.cronin checks.

Flop: ($0.50) Jh, Qd, 5d (5 players)
SB checks, st.cronin bets $0.5, MP1 raises to $1, MP3 folds, Button folds, SB folds, st.cronin calls $0.50.

Turn: ($2.50) 3h (2 players)
st.cronin bets $2, MP1 calls $2.

River: ($6.50) 9h (2 players)
st.cronin bets $2.5, MP1 calls $1.55 (All-In).

Final Pot: $9.60


I am not a big fan of the way you played this hand. I don't like betting into 4 players oop with just 3rd pair and a back door flush draw. I think it is better to check and get some idea of where you stand before you put money into this pot with such a weak hand. Once you get raised what are you putting your opponent on? He is short stacked so if you think you are behind you don't have the implied odds to try and catch up. If you think you are ahead you need to be putting him all-in on this flop.

[primelord]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com (Format: Plain Text)

SB ($13.10)
BB ($9.70)
UTG ($11.55)
UTG+1 ($7.65)
MP1 ($11.40)
MP2 ($10)
CO ($11.10)
st.cronin ($6.35)

Preflop: st.cronin is Button with Ts, Tc. MP2 posts a blind of $0.1.
3 folds, MP2 (poster) checks, 1 fold, st.cronin raises to $0.35, 1 fold, BB calls $0.25, MP2 folds.

Flop: ($0.85) 8h, Ks, 4d (2 players)
BB bets $0.6, st.cronin calls $0.60.

Turn: ($2.05) Kd (2 players)
BB checks, st.cronin bets $2, BB folds.

Final Pot: $2.05


Nice hand.

[st.cronin]

Thanks to everybody for their comments. Last night my bankroll was up to @ $78.00. Its down to about $60 after an experiment playing two tables at once went very badly earlier, but I'm still in profit (initial deposit was $50.00).

[st.cronin]

Bankroll is right about 70. Most of my volatility takes place from the blinds - I think my play in those positions tends to be very poor.

If anybody has any general comments about how to play from the blinds, I'd appreciate it. I'll post some hands if I get a chance.

[st.cronin]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 (t4150)
MP1 (t7405)
MP2 (t1175)
CO (t7030)
Button (t2395)
SB (t5065)
st.cronin (t3489)
UTG (t6020)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with 9, 5.
4 folds, CO calls t150, 2 folds, st.cronin checks.

Flop: (t375) T, 4, 8 (2 players)
st.cronin bets t325, CO folds.

Final Pot: t375

Even though I won this pot, I don't think this is a hand I should be playing.

[primelord]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Bankroll is right about 70. Most of my volatility takes place from the blinds - I think my play in those positions tends to be very poor.

If anybody has any general comments about how to play from the blinds, I'd appreciate it. I'll post some hands if I get a chance.

This is a common problem. People get to see free flops in the BB and they tend to lose their minds a bit and over play hands when they catch any piece. In general you need to be playing hands carefully out of the blinds. Even though you get a discounted price to come in, you are doing so out of position. Position is important in all forms of Hold 'Em, but is amplified in NL.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 (t4150)
MP1 (t7405)
MP2 (t1175)
CO (t7030)
Button (t2395)
SB (t5065)
st.cronin (t3489)
UTG (t6020)

Preflop: st.cronin is BB with 9, 5.
4 folds, CO calls t150, 2 folds, st.cronin checks.

Flop: (t375) T, 4, 8 (2 players)
st.cronin bets t325, CO folds.

Final Pot: t375

Even though I won this pot, I don't think this is a hand I should be playing.

The only thing I'd question is your bet size. You got to see the flop for free and you took a stab at it post flop. If raised or called, you were likely going to be done with the hand. However, you could have likely won the hand with a bet of 200-250. In sit & go's chips matter a whole lot more than in cash games or even multi-table tournaments. That makes getting the right bet size crucial and not putting chips at risk unnecessarily.