Elementary decisions at NL
 

I'm still trying to learn the basics of NL so am posting these that are probably easy but still puzzling to me. Please correct my actions and/or thought processes as you think appropriate. (I am buying in short on purpose while I am learning)

I had stats on the villain that were 17/13/0 after 22 hands. I hadn't seen her show down any yet. I figured I would give her credit for a big pair here rather than assume she was coming over the top with a smaller pair or AK or something like that. This OK? Or too weak tight.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

saw flop|<font color="#C00000">saw showdown</font>

Hero ($3.55)
MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($4.30)
CO ($2.60)
Button ($9.40)
SB ($4.95)
BB ($7.85)
UTG ($1.85)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $0.3</font>, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, SB calls $0.25, <font color="#CC3333">BB raises to $7.95</font>, Hero folds, SB folds.


Villain was new to the table. No read. No stats. I raised preflop, obviously liked the hand, but also didn't want a lot of company. I figured if I could get HU with someone I'd push the flop. Later I started thinking maybe I needed a deeper stack to pull this off?
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

saw flop|[color=#C00000]saw showdown</font>

[color=#C00000]Hero ($1.90)</font>
BB ($10.25)
UTG ($3.85)
UTG+1 ($6.45)
MP1 ($9.15)
MP2 ($5.25)
MP3 ($8.55)
CO ($9.55)
[color=#C00000]Button ($2.30)</font>

Preflop: Hero is SB with http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/ad.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/kd.gif.
UTG calls $0.10, [color=#666666]2 folds</font>, MP2 calls $0.10, [color=#666666]2 folds</font>, [color=#CC3333]Button raises to $0.4</font>, [color=#CC3333]Hero raises to $1</font>, [color=#666666]1 fold</font>, UTG folds, MP2 folds, Button calls $0.60.

Flop: ($2.30) http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/2s.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/2c.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/2h.gif [color=#0000FF](2 players)</font>
[color=#CC3333]Hero bets $0.9 (All-In)</font>, Button calls $0.90.

I really never felt comfortable in this hand. I suppose this was a fold PF UTG. But since I didn't, where else did I go wrong?
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

saw flop|[color=#C00000]saw showdown</font>

Hero ($3)
UTG+1 ($10.25)
MP1 ($3.95)
MP2 ($3.15)
MP3 ($9.25)
CO ($4.20)
Button ($8.55)
SB ($9.70)
BB ($2.45)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/ah.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/7h.gif.
Hero calls $0.10, [color=#666666]4 folds</font>, CO calls $0.10, [color=#666666]2 folds</font>, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.35) http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/4d.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/4h.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/7c.gif [color=#0000FF](3 players)</font>
BB checks, [color=#CC3333]Hero bets $0.4</font>, CO calls $0.40, BB folds.

Turn: ($1.15) http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/9s.gif [color=#0000FF](2 players)</font>
Hero checks, [color=#CC3333]CO bets $0.5</font>, Hero calls $0.50. Do I need to fire on this turn?

River: ($2.15) http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/3h.gif [color=#0000FF](2 players)</font>
Hero checks, [color=#CC3333]CO bets $3.2 (All-In)</font>, Hero folds. Did not betting the turn set me up for this? And if I had bet the turn should I also bet the river?

I used the same converter in all three hands and with the same settings. It seems to have mind of its own. Sorry if that is a distraction. Thanks in advance for any comments.

Re: Elementary decisions at NL
 

Hey Bona,
I feel I've already established I really have no idea what I'm doing in NL, but I'll throw in my opinions just as if I knew wtf was going on [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Hand 1, I don't see how you can call here...nh
Hand 2, I like the plan b/c of your stack size.
Hand 3, I think you should either raise or fold (heh) pf, really depending on the table. Since you're here, I like the flop bet, but I think I'm making a bet on the turn, prolly around 2/3 pot.

Hope this helps, and doesn't rather completely confuse things.

-J

Re: Elementary decisions at NL
 

Hand 1 is fine, it sucks when this happens because it looks like he's fos. If you give him a range of 88+ AT+ then you are either flipping or a massive dog, so good fold.

Hand 2 with the short stacks and the calls + raise infront I'd just push preflop. Whatever comes on the flop you aren't folding so may aswell get it in here and try to take it down pre.

It looks like you are trying to play full stack poker with a short stack, which doesn't really work. Since you have a short stack you need to alter your play accordingly. If the $ is an issue then find a site that will let you play with a $2 buy in so you can be full stacked.

Hand 3 I fold preflop at 6-max, full ring I guess it should be an instamuck. As played betting flop is good, I'd also bet the turn and c/f most rivers.