...and I think it's heads-up pots. I've realized that I believe the reason I'm not beating 2/4 is two-fold. For one, I'm running a little worse than I'm used to, especially in multi-way pots. For instance, I remember a session very recently where I had two sets lose (at least one of them having been a boat) and I'm not winning any where near my normal share with AA.

However, I the real rub is that I think I'm playing heads-up pots sub-optimally, and since these are more prevalent at 2/4 it's causing me problems. At .5/1 and to a lesser extent 1/2 I can often get by on raw aggression. If I raise pre-flop, then miss the flop in a shorthanded pot I can just keep betting until everyone folds. In 2/4 it doesn't seem to work this way.

Here's an example. I'll raise first in from say the CO with AJo, the BB will defend and I'll miss the flop. I'll bet, he'll call. Turn is a blank, check/bet/call; river is a blank - bet/call or check/bet/raise/call. In other words, I'm calling down with Ace high a lot, and I'm not sure I should be.

Another example would be a similar scenario except something like I raise with AK, get one or two callers, flop T9x...I bet, 2 calls. Turn blank (or T) I bet, and get raised. I find myself calling these down a lot.

Now, sometimes they're bluffing but most of the time they're not. I guess the big question is how should I be playing these hands where I've got overs and miss the flop in a heads-up pot? Should I just keep betting until I'm shown aggression, then give it up, especially on the river if I don't improve? Should I be checking more turns, or more rivers when I haven't improved my hand?

You're betting the river with ace high? Why?

Check behind if you're in position.

Why would you call down a raise in a 3 way pot with ace high and no draws?

If you know it's bad, just dont do it unless the guy is a maniac.

go play 6 Max at $1/2.
Get better at marginal situations and HU play.

Then, remember when you get back to full ring, that your opponents will have better holdings on average.

Hmmm.. maybe playing 6 Max will screw me up.

Yep thats most likely the best way to get better at heads up play.

In general don't be afraid to let go of hands like AK or AJ on the turn when you've missed. At 2/4 the level of play is still pretty passive so its unlikely you're getting semi bluffed all that often.

i have the same problem, and while I have trouble controlling it, I think I know how. You gotta mix it up based on your feel of the hand. After a raise preflop, follow on the flop almost all of the time given the board is such that there is a chance they will fold on it or you feel you have them dominated, from their perspective it is believable that you hit the flop, etc. If you lead the flop every time you raise preflop, they will call regardless of their hand. If on the turn you feel like you still have them beat say AK vs AJ, bet again. You know what I mean. Oh and fold to those reraises unless you feel its an obvious bluff or you have outs that allow a call. I call it educated randomizing.

The strategy I have been experimenting with recently has the effect of causing my opponents to call me down all the time and such so that has an obvious effect on my opinion. Now if I can only implement my own thoughts.