Help - I keep doing this! ($4-$10)

[Markusgc]

This isn't so much about THIS hand. It's about a leak I have overall. In the MTT Community Bond18 suggested posting things you're having trouble with, even if you know people will tear it apart. Well, this is one of those things. But if I get even one good response, it'll be worth it.

Early in tournies I have this happening to me often - I put in a solid raise, get too many callers, miss flop, c-bet and don't pick it up or check/fold to one of the several people still in who most likely hit DID hit the flop.

Then I find myself missing about 20% of my stack in the first 2 levels.

Here's a typical example. Sorry about no stack sizes, but it's very early and everyone's got about 1000.

My notes on villain say he's prone to play garbage out of position.


**Hand #91833078 begins**
Button receives the dealer button
SB posts small blind 7
BB posts big blind 15
You are dealt K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
UTG calls 15
Villian calls 15
MP folds
Hero raises 75
MP+2 folds
CO folds
Button folds
SB folds
BB folds
UTG calls 60
Villian calls 60
(pot was 247)
Flop is dealt: 3 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 3 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
UTG checks
Villian checks
Hero bets 135
UTG folds
Villian raises 300
Hero folds

Now, I'm thinking - should I raise more pre-flop? I don't think a lot of average (or worse) players think in terms of "he raised 5 times the big blind," I suspect it's more like "75 chips is just like a little part of my stack."

Or, should i raise less, with the understanding that I'll get called pretty much no matter what, but at least I'm getting more chips in the pot, discouraging further callers (if not keeping them out entirely) and still sending the message that I have a big hand. That will allow me to not only keep a few more chips in my stack pre-flop, it'll keep the pot smaller for subsequent c-bets.

On this hand - I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have c-bet the flop w/2 callers, but I thought I had a good shot at taking it down on a fairly innocuous board and checked to me. Other options here - bet more. Maybe it was too obviously a c-bet. OR, maybe check and hope to improve on further streets.

This is an area that's been a sore spot for me lately. Any advice would be much appreciated.