50NL Trouble with big pairs!
 

So heres my story...about a year ago i deposited $100 and through bonus's and winning built my bankroll up to about 2500(playing mostly limit) but had to cash out when the whole Neteller thing happened.Ive been a long time lurker of the poker forums and a occasional poster in the sports betting forums. I got my money back online in July on Pokerstars and have been playing full ring NL 50 as much as i can which is not much since ive been working alot before i go back to school,but plan on playing much more in the winter. So far since depositing ive had the normal up and downs but have had alot of trouble playing large pairs which is for most part a major part of the downswings ive been taking part of it is bad luck but most of it i think is ive playing them bad since it seems to be happening way to often. Anyways heres a few hands some winners some losers any help is appreciated.

Hand #1 Villan is 62/4/0.18 over 50 hands


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP1 ($16.50)
MP2 ($55.80)
Hero ($53.10)
Button ($29.75)
SB ($29.65)
BB ($13.30)
UTG ($57)

Preflop: Hero is CO with http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/as.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/ad.gif.
2 folds,MP2 calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2.5,/color], i]3 folds[/i]</font>, MP2 raises to $4.5</font>, Hero raises to $13</font>, MP2 calls $8.50.

Flop: ($26.75) http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/8c.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/kh.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/4h.gif (2 players)</font>
MP2 bets $42.8 (All-In)</font>, Hero ???


Hand #2
Villan is 20/10/1 over 98 hands

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

SB ($33.55)
BB ($12)
UTG ($48.75)
MP1 ($54.95)
MP2 ($61.90)
Hero ($59.10)
Button ($87.95)

Preflop: Hero is CO with http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/as.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/ac.gif.
1 fold</font>, MP1 raises to $2</font>,1 fold</font>, Hero raises to $4.5</font>,3 folds[/i]</font>, MP1 calls $2.50.

Flop: ($9.75) http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/6d.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/qc.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/kc.gif (2 players)</font>
MP1 checks, Hero bets $3.5</font>, MP1 raises to $11</font>,Hero.....


Hand #3 Villan is 20/9/.92 over 40 hands

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP3 ($50)
CO ($8.50)
Hero ($56.60)
SB ($103.10)
BB ($50)
UTG ($22.35)
UTG+1 ($84.40)
MP1 ($30.90)
MP2 ($43.15)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif.
i]1 fold[/i]</font>, UTG+1 raises to $2</font>, i]4 folds[/i]</font>, Hero raises to $5</font>, 2 folds[/i]</font>, UTG+1 calls $3.

Flop: ($10.75) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Thttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 3http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players)</font>
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $7.5</font>, UTG+1 raises to $20</font>,Hero......


Hand 4- No reads on villan


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($50)
UTG+1 ($50.15)
MP1 ($46.15)
MP2 ($19.75)
CO ($71.65)
Button ($11.90)
SB ($49.80)
Hero ($51.35)

Preflop: Hero is BB with http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/qs.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/qh.gif.
i]2 folds[/i]</font>, MP1 raises to $2</font>, i]4 folds[/i]</font>,Hero raises to $4.5</font>, MP1 calls $2.50.

Flop: ($9.25) http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/th.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/3s.gif, http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/.../smiles/3d.gif [color=#0000FF](2 players)</font>
Hero bets $5</font>, MP1 raises to $15</font>, Hero ???

Theres many more but i think thats enough for now atleast.Any help or anythougts on playing big pairs at lower stakes would be appreciated thanx!

Re: Trouble with big pairs!
 

What's with your ridiculous reraise sizes?

Re: Trouble with big pairs!
 

You should generally be making roughly pot-sized reraises. Every one of these hands is a 3-bet pot (except the first which is a 4-bet pot) and none of them are sized well. On top of that, your c-bet sizes are poorly sized. Having come from limit, that's unsurprising, since bet-sizing is the fundamental difference between limit and no limit. Basically, you either want to make a bet someone's going to have to think about (closer to pot sized), or don't bet at all. When you make awkwardly sized bets, you will find yourself in more awkward spots. Playing big pairs is not the easiest part of no limit, but sizing your bets well makes it easier.

Re: Trouble with big pairs!
 

so smaller re-reaises preflop and larger raises on the flop to help narrow his ranges down?

Re: Trouble with big pairs!
 

Nah dude, your preflop reraises are way too small. Make it 3-4x the initial raise, more when OOP. In 3bet pots, if you plan to bet the flop (and usually you should) make it between 2/3 and 3/4 of the pot.

People are going to take a lot of shots at you when you bet so small postflop which will make for tougher decisions.

Re: Trouble with big pairs!
 

[ QUOTE ]
You should generally be making roughly pot-sized reraises. Every one of these hands is a 3-bet pot (except the first which is a 4-bet pot) and none of them are sized well. On top of that, your c-bet sizes are poorly sized. Having come from limit, that's unsurprising, since bet-sizing is the fundamental difference between limit and no limit. Basically, you either want to make a bet someone's going to have to think about (closer to pot sized), or don't bet at all. When you make awkwardly sized bets, you will find yourself in more awkward spots. Playing big pairs is not the easiest part of no limit, but sizing your bets well makes it easier.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very well said.

Re: Trouble with big pairs!
 

alrite thanks guys!