Party Poker 0.5/1 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Qs, Ah.
1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (3 SB) As, 9h, 5d (3 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, SB folds.

Turn: (5.50 BB) Kc (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (11.50 BB) 3h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 11.50 BB

please crtique, I hope I'm getting better.
I'm still afraid of the river check raise....so I check too

Raise preflop... otherwise, it looks pretty good to me. I agree that betting the river probably would be a trap in this situation.

this table turned out to be quite likely to pay off..
I was hoping to limp and entice a raiser, then have more bets in the pot.

Perhaps, you say that limiting the field out weighs that?
Or..raising first gives me the best chance to get the pot size up ?
Or both!

thanks..you are always a big help.

Raise preflop.

I'd probably cap the flop. If that slowed BB down I'd bet the turn and call a C/R.

Checking the river is probably OK if you do those things. You're up against AT, AJ, or two pair, and the two pair could be some random donkey sh.it that you wouldn't have to deal with if you had raised preflop...

so raise preflop.

Raising w/ A-Q offsuit is standard. It's a very strong starting hand. You'd be raising with A-K, right? Same thing. When you thin the field by forcing them to call two cold, that's good for you. When callers put their money in there with worse hands, that's good for you. When players reraise indicating "HEY I'VE GOT A MONSTER HERE" that's good to know too.

Also, you don't want to be sneaky at the lower limits. Wouldn't you hate it if someone limped behind you w/ 5-6 offsuit, and flopped the nutz straight... yet they'd never have called two cold from MP...

I wouldn't say all that. At this limit...the BB will usually stay in because he's "pot committed" and can't just let you steal his blind. But still, raise PF. It also helps you out on the flop, as if he gives you a lot of action even when the A hits it usually means he's not scared of it.

Of course people defend blinds, and even cold call 3 preflop, with dumbsh.it hands at this level. But other people playing poorly is not an excuse to play poorly yourself. The point is, give him the opportunity to fold his 59o, or to make a mistake and call the raise. The raise that you should have made preflop, that is.