This weekend i was playing in a 3/6 live game at my home casino. It was a good weekend ( a lot of soft players) but there were some questionable hands that i would like input on

hand 1

I am in sb with Qc, 7h

everyone folds to cutoff who limps. I would usally fold but had a decent read on co and bb so i completed.

FLOP Qd, 7s, 4d

I checked the flop because i was sure i was way ahead and did not really put the players on a flush draw.
the bb checks, co bets, I just call

TURN 9d

I didnt really like this card but i didnt think it was horrible, so i checked again hoping to get the co to bet into me for a chance to check raise.
Both players CHECK, which is horrible for me.

RIVER 3d

THIS IS HORRIBLE because i was without a diamond so i had to check and bb cecked also. Now the co hesitated before he bet and i stupidly called his bet as did the bb who had the Kd and won the put.

i Think my mistake was the turn play. Thoughts?

Hand 2

This one was shorthanded (6 players) and towards the end of the night.

I had Kc, 7c and after 2 players limp i decided to limp as well

Flop K, 10, 8 rainbow

The player b4 me (new to the table) bets and i think about raising but for some reason i just call.

Turn 9

The same player hesitates and bets. At this point i am not too thrilled but for some reason cant fold.

River 9

I didnt think this changed much and ended up calling his bet. He shows QJ for the straight.

I think i should have raised the flop because it would have defined my hand better. Thoughts?

Welcome to the forum. I think you'll find it (especially the strategy section) a friendly and informative place.

Both hands you talk about wreak of not having read (or applied) David Sklansky's Small Stakes Hold'em. I highly HIGHLY recommend that book. It's a bit theory heavy, but it's perfect for 99% of the poker players swept up in this revolution today in 2005.

Definitely always bet out flopped two pair from the blinds. Bet the turn too. If the board still goes diamond-diamond, it happens, but you're hemorrhaging cash by checking the flop and turn.

For hand two... K7s? That's a very loose limp with only two people in the hand. I'd fold K7s from the button with 5 limpers (unless the game was just that bad). You should raise the flop if you're going to play K7, but the correct answer is you never have to worry about top pair 7 kicker because you shouldn't play ace- on down to ten-7. Unless it's A7 sooooted, you definitely shouldn't play face-7.

Hire someone to put chips in the pot for you when you're way ahead.

Sklansky clearly states on the preflop hand charts to play any suited king from late position in a loose game

Lol. Well there ya go.

I guess I just try to give my opponents more credit than that. As Hellmuth says... "millions of dollars are lost every year on king high flushes."

Lol
I cracked aces in Vegas with K6 suited. Flush draw on the flop...didn't have the odds to continue on the turn, but I picked up a 6 on the turn for partial outs making it just enough to see the river

Yea i definetly see that i was wrong in both cases. With the first hand i wanted to win a big pot and clearly that wasnt going to happen.
the seconf hand was one of those where after you look back on it you just scratch your head. I should have folded pre flop and if i called i should have raised the flop and maybe saved money down the road.

thanks for replies

The easiest way to win a big pot is to have a good hand, bet a good hand, and have someone else overplay their second place hand.

Two pair is the third worst hand value you can make. Think of it that way.

That's why fish give up and quit hold'em. The hands you play the fastest are one pair, vs. games like omaha, where the hands you play the fastest are nut straights, flushes, and boats.