Ten NL Hands I played recently (AKA: I suck at cash games)

Sherman · #1 08-01-2007, 10:05 PM

I am going to post a whole bunch of hands I have sitting on my desktop. These hands were played between today and the 20th of June. In that time I have played ~3.3K hands NL 6max from 2NL to 25NL. I'm down $25 over that span (yet running at 9.2PTBBs/100). I can't figure out if I suck, if I run bad, if this is variance, or what. Any advice on any of these hands is greatly appreciated.

FWIW, I'm an experienced tournament player. In some of these hands I intentionally bought in short to try to guarantee myself a bit of +EV.

Hand 1: I don't think my bluff makes any sense here, but his river bet looked soooo weak. Good, bad, terrible? I don't usually run elaborate bluffs at these limits.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

BB ($41.15)
UTG ($38.65)
MP ($24.65)
Hero ($13.55)
Button ($6.55)
SB ($30.85)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
2 folds, Hero raises to $1, Button calls $1, 2 folds.

Flop: ($2.35) K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.75, Hero calls $0.75.

Turn: ($3.85) Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $1, Hero calls $1.

River: ($5.85) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.5, Hero raises to $6,

Hand 2: In this hand villain was a very loose passive player. I saw him call a PFR, a flop bet, a turn bet, and a river bet (for his stack) with TPwK before and get beat by TPTK. Am I still overplaying my hand against him and asking for trouble?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

BB ($24.65)
UTG ($27.45)
Hero ($28.80)
CO ($25.05)
Button ($34.95)
SB ($32.35)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, CO calls $1, 3 folds.

Flop: ($2.35) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets $2, CO calls $2.

Turn: ($6.35) 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets $4.5, CO calls $4.50.

River: ($15.35) J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets $7, CO raises to $17.55, Hero calls $10.55.

Final Pot: $50.45

Hand 3: Standard play with AA? Turn check for pot-control against reverse implied odds good?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

Hero ($9.80)
MP ($15.40)
CO ($15.55)
Button ($3.80)
SB ($4)
BB ($9.75)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
Hero raises to $0.4, 1 fold, CO calls $0.40, 2 folds, BB calls $0.30.

Flop: ($1.25) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.2, CO folds, BB calls $1.20.

Turn: ($3.65) 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: ($3.65) 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets $1.5, Hero calls $1.50.

Final Pot: $6.65

Hand 4: Is this river fold just terrible?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

MP ($16.75)
CO ($11.50)
Button ($8.55)
SB ($8.25)
Hero ($9.90)
UTG ($3.90)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
1 fold, MP calls $0.10, 2 folds, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: ($0.30) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.3, MP calls $0.30, SB calls $0.30.

Turn: ($1.20) T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.5, MP calls $0.50, SB calls $0.50.

River: ($2.70) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB bets $2, Hero folds, MP folds.

Final Pot: $4.70

Hand 5: Should I bet more on this river? If so, how much?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

Hero ($9.90)
SB ($10.25)
BB ($11.20)
UTG ($16.05)
MP ($12.35)
CO ($15)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls $0.10, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.5, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.40.

Flop: ($1.15) 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $1, UTG calls $1.

Turn: ($3.15) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

River: ($3.15) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
UTG bets $2, Hero raises to $6, UTG calls $4.

Final Pot: $15.15

Hand 6: Should I be value betting this river?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

Button ($2.75)
SB ($20.45)
BB ($13.15)
UTG ($25.95)
Hero ($18.70)
CO ($23.55)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, SB calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Flop: ($2.25) 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $2.25, SB calls $2.25.

Turn: ($6.75) 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: ($6.75) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $6.75

Hand 7: Super easy fold to this overbet right?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (5 handed) internettexasholdem.com

Hero ($9.85)
SB ($19.35)
BB ($10.70)
UTG ($7)
MP ($9.55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls $0.10, MP calls $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.45) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (4 players)
BB bets $0.5, UTG folds, MP folds, Hero calls $0.50.

Turn: ($1.45) 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB bets $2, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $3.45

Hand 8: What to do against this open-limp shove? EZ call?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

UTG ($9.50)
MP ($25.45)
Hero ($26.35)
Button ($24.65)
SB ($13.25)
BB ($25.80)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.25, 3 folds, UTG raises to $9.5, Hero...

Hand 9: Should I be betting this river or checking?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (5 handed) internettexasholdem.com

SB ($24.80)
Hero ($22)
UTG ($5.40)
MP ($37.50)
Button ($22.80)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
2 folds, Button calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero checks.

Flop: ($0.60) 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($0.60) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero bets $0.25, Button raises to $0.75, Hero calls $0.50.

River: ($2.10) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players) Hero....

Hand 10: I really struggle playing pocket pairs OOP postflop (when I miss obv.). Is this good/bad?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

MP ($11.60)
CO ($16.50)
Button ($2.65)
SB ($11.35)
Hero ($10)
UTG ($25.95)

Preflop: Hero is BB with T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
1 fold, MP raises to $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.75.

Flop: ($2.10) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $2, Hero calls $2.

Turn: ($6.10) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

River: ($6.10) 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $7, Hero calls $7 (All-In).

Final Pot: $20.10

So I asked a lot of specific questions on these hands, but I am open to criticism on all streets. I am trying to find leaks that I don't even know about also. Thanks for your considered comments.

Sherman

Edit: To mention that the reason I posted them all here is because I didn't want to flood the board by giving each hand its own thread.

Capitan23 · #2 08-01-2007, 10:28 PM

Hand:
#1. This is a horrible line.

#2. PF through turn is good here, I think I would check river. As played I might fold to raise.

#3 Bet that turn. River check/call is fine.

#4 Yes the fold is bad, but the turn bet is bad too. If you're going to bet it, dont give them odds to hit a diamond!!

#5 Bet turn.

#6 Bet turn.

#7 ya ez fold, but i dont like to call flop here. I like to raise. If he calls and bets turn or 3 bets you can fold.

#8 call shove.

#9 Dont bet .25! make a real bet.

#10 refer to #7

Capitan23 · #3 08-01-2007, 10:31 PM

on hand #1, try bet flop, check/call small bet on turn, check/fold river. Need to bet the draw to get some value out of it if it hits.

Rounder101 · #4 08-01-2007, 10:31 PM

Hand 1: dont think its a good spot to bluff, and if u do I think 6$ is a little too much.
Hand 2: I feel the best line on the river is c/c
Hand 3: keep betting the turn. Get more money if he has that king.
Hand 5: any hand that is calling that raise, will call ur 2.4 left, so I think shoving is the right play.
Hand 7: IMO (though many wont agree) u have to raise this flop, to see where ur at. Not a supereasy fold, cuz QT JT 9T, almost any T may be doing this play here. Without reads I do fold.
Hand 8: Call. Slick and almost any pp, are played by many shortstack donks this way.
Hand 10: I 3bet with Ts PF, and try to end it there and if not, shorten his range

members_only · #5 08-01-2007, 10:59 PM

Wow, I actually bothered to read them all, so here are my comments.

They're hardly authoritative though... And I'm sure you've played plenty more nlhe than me, albeit in tournament form, so I don't want to sound like I'm lecturing you. Would be interesting to hear what other people say.

Hand 1: Really really horrible. I'd prefer a flop c-bet but after taking the line you did (ok as it turned out as he offered you such good odds) your bluff, as you say, makes no sense at all. Fwiw, I think bad villains will often take this bet-weak-on-three-streets line with some kind of marginal/scared hand like a K.

2: Given your read on villain, it's good to go for value with your tpgk but (again given your read about villain's passivity) you've got to be really suspicious of that river raise.

3: Yes, check turn behind and value-bet/call river is pretty standard here. I like it given how dry the flop is, assuming villain is reasonable.

4: Wtf is that turn bet? And yes, I think river fold is fairly terrible.

5: Not crazy about checking behind on the turn, you've got the nuts, you might as well try to get some value out of it. River raise size is ok... maybe make it 7/8

6: I agree his most likely hand is a worse T but a value bet here is really thin when the 4-straight comes. Hard-core range-merging only

7: Yup

8: Yup, assuming villain is just random short-stack

9: Don't you want to bet the flop with tp hu vs button limper? Bet more on the turn as well. As played I think c/c is good on the river

10: 3-betting is obviously an option pre-flop, especially given that you're only playing about 40 bb. But calling is ok too. c/c is fine on flop although again as you're less than half-stacked you could commit yourself quite easily with a c/r with what figures to be the best hand most of the time. I think you have to fold the river, an ace is such a big part of his range here.

Hood_88 · #6 08-01-2007, 11:37 PM

Hand 1: You really should c-bet this, especially HU and with the flush draw. Don't really like the river bluff at all, villain will call you down with a weak hand after you c/c every street.

Hand 2: I agree that it looks good until the river, the RR looks like he was calling with QJ and spiked two pair or something like that so you have to be suspicious. C/c would probably have been a better line on riv. I make a crying call here because of the size of the pot.

Hand 3: Betting the turn is an option, but I like checking to induce a bluff from a hand like 56 as well. NH, riv is fine.

Hand 4: Turn bet should be much larger, $1-1.20. River is a call.

Hand 5: Checking is ok if you think you can get more out of the Kh or Qh. Otherwise just bet it.

hand 6: I bet turn and c/c riv depending on size of the bet.

Hand 7: I raise flop to about $2 and fold to a shove or big river bet.

Hand 8: instacall

Hand 9: I pot the turn and c/c the river.

Hand 10: This is why I don't like buying in short. Normally I would RR the flop to snap off a c-bet but with your stack size you might just have to shove. As played, looks like he made a cbet with an Ax type hand and caught a straight on the river. As played its a fold.