I'm in the middle of a downswing, and my confidence is getting shot. Every time I have a hand, someone is playing back at me and I'm not sure what to do. Here are a few examples...

1) Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
9 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
Hero: $99
Button: $97.50
SB: $125.46

Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is UTG+1 with
UTG folds, Hero raises to $4, 4 folds, Button calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: ($13, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $7, Button calls, SB folds.

Turn: ($27, 2 players)
Hero bets $14, Button raises to $28, Hero ???


2) Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
10 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
Hero: $92.85
CO: $85.50

Pre-flop: (10 players) Hero is UTG+2 with
UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, Hero raises to $4, 3 folds, CO calls, 3 folds, UTG calls.

Flop: ($13.5, 3 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $7, CO calls, UTG folds.

Turn: ($27.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $15, CO calls.

River: ($57.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $30, CO raises all-in $59.5, Hero ???

Should I have slowed down here anywhere? What do you do when all he's done so far is call?


3) Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
9 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $70.93
UTG+1: $112.90
MP1: $73.35
MP2: $125.10
Hero: $136.98
CO: $32.93
Button: $91.25
SB: $56.05
BB: $100

Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is MP3 with
UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $5, 3 folds, BB calls, UTG calls, MP1 calls.

Flop: ($20.5, 4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $11, BB folds, UTG calls, MP1 raises to $44, Hero ???

Now it seems that every time I bet, I'm waiting for the raise to push me off the hand. Should I be betting more? Less? I'm just pretty frustrated here...

Try betting closer to 3/4ths the pot instead of half.

1st two hands try limping in UTG with JJ and QQ sometimes. Helps keep the pot small and your hand disguised. Then also consider a check raise if you feel they will bet in position on any flop.

The last hand could easily be a flush draw so I think I call with the AK there based on the pot size.

I wouldn't listen to that advice if you are in the middle of a downswing. Not staying aggressive is the worse thing you can do.

You seriuosly raise with JJ and QQ UTG all the time?

QQ obv.

I do with JJ, but I've been told mixing it up depending on the table is good. Some have told me to limp here. But I still raise 100%.

Hand 1
Bet $10 on the flop.
Turn bet looks ok.
Fold to the raise.

Hand 2
Bet $10 on the flop.
Turn and river look ok.
Call the allin.

Hand 3
Bet >$14 on the flop.
Push after he raises.


1st two hands try limping in UTG with JJ and QQ sometimes.
No. Don't.

You seriuosly raise with JJ and QQ UTG all the time?
Yes. Don't open limp. Especially with JJ and QQ. Even more especially UTG with JJ and QQ.

1) Fold. He his 2 pair or a flush, all you can beat is a pure bluff or somebody who lost his head.

2) Suck it up and call. Youre probably beat, but getting 5:1. Bet more on the flop and turn. I personally bet at least 10 and 20 here, prolly closer to 25 on the turn. Note: if i bet 10 on the flop, im prolly not betting a lot less than 30 on the turn.

3) I don't like it. I'm a donkey and probably fold. When I make a bet like that I usually flopped a set bc i know people cant get away from TP. A semi bluff with a flush draw is possible, but KQ and less (hands you can beat) doesnt do that.

P.S. Opening with JJ and QQ is not only perfectly fine, but not doing at an average table is borderline retarded. Unless your table is playing ROCK SOLID TIGHT at which point everybody prolly has several hundred BB's, raising here is basically required.

You seriuosly raise with JJ and QQ UTG all the time?
Yes. Don't open limp. Especially with JJ and QQ. Even more especially UTG with JJ and QQ.
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I open limp with QQ depending on how tight the table is about 5-10% and JJ around 15-25%. We can agree to disagree though. I play UTG a bit different than most and I know that. I think it helps offset my late position play.

Wait, if the table is tight you will limp? Or vice versa?

QQ is not strong enough to trap IMO, so limp/reraising is a bad play. Limp/calling is worse.

simo,

flop #3 is a flop that always gets me in trouble. most of the time i push right into a set or two pair. can u defend your statement to push a little more?

If this was a rainbow flop I rate folding a lot higher. With 2 hearts there this could be a semibluff with a flush draw. Your bet of $11 looks quite weak and encourages 'moves'. This could also be KQ/KJ.

I don't hate folding, but it seems weak in this situation. There are quite a few potential hands you beat, and only 2 that beat you.

If table is tight I raise with alot hands. loose tables which I find alot at lower stakes I limp more often here. the lower the pocket pair the more I limp so with QQ I do raise alot more than with JJ. I think it is important to limp with premium hands UTG sometimes to help counter when have a lot limper and the button raises to try and steal the pot. I find it a useful trap in some cases but this is also at a loose table.