OK, in response to the objections over my previous posts, here is a more selective list of hands from a typical (as of late) session for me. At first I thought I was getting unlucky, but the time is past for that to be the explanation. These are all $1/$2 SHLHE on Stars. So which of these hands did I screw up (if not all of them):

HAND #1


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with 6 6
UTG calls, UTG+1 raises, CO folds, Button 3-bets, SB folds, hblask calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls.

Flop: 2 2 T (12.5SB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Button checks.

Turn: Q (6.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Button checks.

River: 5 (6.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Button bets, hblask calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 folds.


HAND #2


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with 9 A
UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, hblask calls, UTG calls.

Flop: 5 2 2 (6.5SB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, CO bets, hblask folds


HAND #3


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is UTG with A Q
hblask raises, 4 folds, BB calls.

Flop: A 9 8 (4.5SB, 2 players)
BB checks, hblask bets, BB calls.

Turn: K (3.25BB, 2 players)
BB checks, hblask bets, BB calls.

River: 5 (5.25BB, 2 players)
BB checks, hblask bets, BB raises, hblask calls.


HAND #4

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is SB with A 2
UTG calls, CO calls, Button folds, hblask calls, BB checks.

Flop: 4 9 9 (4SB, 4 players)
hblask checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO checks.

Turn: 7 (2BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO checks.

River: J (2BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO checks.


HAND #5

Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is Button with T A
UTG raises, 2 folds, hblask calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: T Q J (7SB, 3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets, hblask calls, SB calls.

Turn: J (5BB, 3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, hblask bets, SB calls, UTG calls.

River: 7 (8BB, 3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, hblask checks.


HAND #6

Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is CO with 4 A
2 folds, hblask raises, Button folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: 6 Q Q (5SB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.

Turn: 6 (2.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB raises, hblask folds.


HAND #7


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is CO with A 8
UTG (poster) checks, UTG+1 calls, hblask calls, Button folds, SB calls, BB raises, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, hblask calls, SB calls.

Flop: J J 8 (10SB, 5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, hblask checks.

Turn: 4 (5BB, 5 players)
SB bets, BB folds, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, hblask calls.

River: Q (9BB, 4 players)
SB bets, UTG calls, UTG+1 raises, hblask folds,


HAND #8


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with T J
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, CO raises, 2 folds, hblask calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls.

Flop: 3 5 8 (8.5SB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, CO checks.

Turn: 6 (4.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, CO checks.

River: T (4.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG bets, 2 folds, hblask calls.


HAND #9


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is SB with J T
3 folds, Button calls, hblask calls, BB checks.

Flop: K 7 6 (3SB, 3 players)
hblask checks, BB bets, Button calls, hblask folds.


HAND #10

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is CO with A Q
UTG folds, hblask raises, Button folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: 9 3 7 (6SB, 3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, hblask calls, SB calls.

Turn: 3 (4.5BB, 3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, hblask folds


HAND #11

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is UTG with 9 A
hblask raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: Q K 7 (5SB, 2 players)
SB bets, hblask calls.

Turn: 9 (3.5BB, 2 players)
SB bets, hblask calls.

River: 3 (5.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB calls.


HAND #12


Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is BB with 6 A
3 folds, SB calls, hblask checks.

Flop: A Q T (2SB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.

Turn: 2 (1BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.

River: A (1BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets



HAND #13


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is UTG with 8 A
hblask raises, UTG+1 calls, CO calls, Button folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: 3 2 3 (9SB, 4 players)
SB bets, hblask folds


HAND #14


Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with K A
UTG calls, 2 folds, Button calls, SB calls, hblask raises, UTG calls, Button calls, SB folds.

Flop: 5 3 6 (7SB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, Button checks.

Turn: 3 (3.5BB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG bets, Button calls, hblask calls.

River: A (6.5BB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, Button checks.


HAND #15

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is UTG with T A
hblask raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: 6 7 Q (5SB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB calls.

Turn: T (3.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB calls.

River: 8 (5.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.

How the hell did you manage to get that many suit icons.

I thought there was a limit, that's a serious skill.

I'll read over them later.

Thanks for cleaning up the hands.
Makes it much more easy to read.


In general, I think you are playing too weakly.
You are checking at times when a bet must be made.
You are missing value bets and fold equity bets.
You lose a lot of hands that you could be winning.
And the pots you do win are not as big as they should be.


My specific thoughts are below...


HAND #1
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with 6 6
UTG calls, UTG+1 raises, CO folds, Button 3-bets, SB folds, hblask calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls.

Flop: 2 2 T (12.5SB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Button checks.

Turn: Q (6.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Button checks.

River: 5 (6.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Button bets, hblask calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 folds.

Against 3 opponents, I don’t expect our 6’s to win without improving.
But this was a good flop for us.
I check with the intention of check-raising the Button to isolate his overs.

I am disappointed when it gets checked through.
I will lead the turn if a T432 fall.
When another over hits, I intend on check-folding.
Calling down from the turn is not an option.

But it gets checked through again.
And then a harmless 5 hits.
And only the Button bets.
But we are in the worst possible spot since 2 opponents sit behind us.
This makes our river decision very tricky.

Button’s river bet could mean a lot of things.
He could certainly have a pocket pair 99-77.
I don’t think he has the T or Q, else he would have needed to bet previously to protect it.
In fact, I think it’s more likely that one of the other opponents has the T or Q and played it soft, expecting Button to bet it for them.
For this reason, if I think Button could be making a positional bluff here, I actually raise the river.
Because I feel that a raise could certainly fold a better hand behind us.

If we only call, I expect any overcalls to be ahead of our little pair.
Someone with a 5 should never overcall in that spot, so we gain no extra value there.

If I don’t think Button would ever bluff here, and that he was probably just playing his 99-77 scared, I have no problem folding this river.


HAND #2
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with 9 A
UTG calls, UTG+1 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, hblask calls, UTG calls.

Flop: 5 2 2 (6.5SB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, CO bets, hblask folds


Conservative and safe.
I see no problem with your idea of waiting for a better spot to gamble.

Against certain LAGs, I sometimes 3bet this preflop and lead the flop.
But playing out of position with a marginal hand is risky.


HAND #3
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is UTG with A Q
hblask raises, 4 folds, BB calls.

Flop: A 9 8 (4.5SB, 2 players)
BB checks, hblask bets, BB calls.

Turn: K (3.25BB, 2 players)
BB checks, hblask bets, BB calls.

River: 5 (5.25BB, 2 players)
BB checks, hblask bets, BB raises, hblask calls.


Standard.
Well played.

HAND #4

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is SB with A 2
UTG calls, CO calls, Button folds, hblask calls, BB checks.

Flop: 4 9 9 (4SB, 4 players)
hblask checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO checks.

Turn: 7 (2BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO checks.

River: J (2BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO checks.


Wow this is a passive table.

I lead out on a lot of xxy flops.

Against 3 opponents, check-folding is fine.
Once you check the flop, you can’t lead bluff after that.
There is just too great of a chance that someone has something once more cards fall.


HAND #5

Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is Button with T A
UTG raises, 2 folds, hblask calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: T Q J (7SB, 3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets, hblask calls, SB calls.

Turn: J (5BB, 3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, hblask bets, SB calls, UTG calls.

River: 7 (8BB, 3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, hblask checks.

I hate this.

If you never cold called preflop again for the rest of your poker life, you would be just fine.

Take this play out of your repertoire.
Either 3bet preflop or fold and get out of the way.



HAND #6

Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is CO with 4 A
2 folds, hblask raises, Button folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: 6 Q Q (5SB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.

Turn: 6 (2.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB raises, hblask folds.


I hate this.

It is important to know when to and when not to continuation-bet.

This is a flop that should always be bet.
I have no idea what you would check here??

XXY flops are wonderful.
Because if you had the best hand before, you very probably still have it.
You have fold equity because of your preflop raise.
USE IT!


But your Ace high is nowhere near strong enough to slowplay.
So bet it and hope to take it down right away.
Never check here.

As played, your weak flop action set yourself up for losing the whole pot.
Since you were so unconfident on the flop, Villain knows that turn certainly didn’t help ya.
So he steals the pot with a check-raise.





HAND #7
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is CO with A 8
UTG (poster) checks, UTG+1 calls, hblask calls, Button folds, SB calls, BB raises, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, hblask calls, SB calls.

Flop: J J 8 (10SB, 5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, hblask checks.

Turn: 4 (5BB, 5 players)
SB bets, BB folds, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, hblask calls.

River: Q (9BB, 4 players)
SB bets, UTG calls, UTG+1 raises, hblask folds,

I hate this.

There are so many reasons to raise this preflop.

- The concept of “buying the button” is an important one.
Being able to act last on every street postflop is incredibly helpful.
If we raise, the Button will very likely fold.
And thus we get the position we are hoping for.
When we just limp, Button gets huge odds to limp behind with all sorts of hands.

- Minimize the field.
Playing this hand against the 2 limpers is a lot easier than playing against 5 opponents.
By limping, we make it easy for the 3 remaining opponents to join us and see a cheap flop.

- Fold equity.
By raising, we state that we have a big hand.
So even if we miss the flop, we can use this reputation to get other hands to fold.

- For value.
First limper is a poster, so he could have trash.
2nd limper may have limped with a marginal hand because there was already one limper on board.
We likely have the best hand.
Punish these limpers by making them pay 2 bets to see the flop.


As played, this flop HAS to be bet.
Your check gives me the shakes.

This xxy flop came perfectly for you.
No one has a higher pocket pair than your 8’s, else they would have raised preflop.
And there are only 2 jacks out there that could have you beat.

We gain a ton of value from another 8.
And a lot of people will chase 1 more card on these boards.
So bet here for value and protection.
Every single time.






HAND #8
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with T J
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, CO raises, 2 folds, hblask calls, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls.

Flop: 3 5 8 (8.5SB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, CO checks.

Turn: 6 (4.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, CO checks.

River: T (4.25BB, 4 players)
hblask checks, UTG bets, 2 folds, hblask calls.


This is fine.
No reason to bluff into 3 opponents with Ten high.


HAND #9
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is SB with J T
3 folds, Button calls, hblask calls, BB checks.

Flop: K 7 6 (3SB, 3 players)
hblask checks, BB bets, Button calls, hblask folds.


Standard



HAND #10

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is CO with A Q
UTG folds, hblask raises, Button folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: 9 3 7 (6SB, 3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, hblask calls, SB calls.

Turn: 3 (4.5BB, 3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, hblask folds


I imagine many people would fold the flop.
I don’t like to do this after raising preflop.

What is Villain betting out with here?
If he had the 9, or any other pocket pair, he really needed to check-raise the flop to protect it on this dangerous 3-flush board.
So I think Villain is often semi-bluffing with the Flush Draw.

If this is my read, I don’t mind raising the flop.
I then bet the turn to charge the draw.
And take the free showdown with the hope that my A high may still be best if Villain didn’t hit his 4th club.
I fold along the way if I counter more resistance.

This may seem like a LAG spew.
But it works enough of the time to not result in big losses.
And it allows me to value raise later big time when I do have a good hand.


Sometimes though, I just peel one more card by calling the flop and fold the turn as you did.

Lots of options.
I don’t think any are too bad.




HAND #11

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is UTG with 9 A
hblask raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: Q K 7 (5SB, 2 players)
SB bets, hblask calls.

Turn: 9 (3.5BB, 2 players)
SB bets, hblask calls.

River: 3 (5.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB calls.
HAND #12
Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is BB with 6 A


Do not bet this river.

What are we putting Villain on??
He either has the K/Q, or he was on a draw that missed.
We gain value from neither of these.

Check this down and be happy if we’re ahead.

Be careful about betting the river with hands that only get called by better hands.



HAND #12
Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is BB with 6 A


3 folds, SB calls, hblask checks.

Flop: A Q T (2SB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.

Turn: 2 (1BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.

River: A (1BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets


I hate this.
A lot.

Do not let the sb open limp.
Especially when you have a hand that is almost always ahead.

You are heads up.
You have position.
And you have the better hand.
You should ALWAYS be raising here for value.
Why did you not??

That was a very dangerous flop.
You are likely still ahead.
But there are a million draws that could beat you.
You need to bet to protect your Top Pair.
And you will be able to collect quite a bit of value from all the drawing hands.
Checking this flop is NOT an option.

You checked the turn again.
Are you scared that you’re behind a random 2 pair?
Or are you slowplaying?
Recognize that your hand is WAY too vulnerable to slowplay.
The check here is awful.

The way to make money at poker to let opponents call you down with weaker hands.
But to do this you must bet!








HAND #13
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is UTG with 8 A
hblask raises, UTG+1 calls, CO calls, Button folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: 3 2 3 (9SB, 4 players)
SB bets, hblask folds


Tough situation.

Villain usually isn’t betting with air into 5 opponents.
And since you have 4 more players behind you, your options are limited.

I fold.



HAND #14
Pre-flop: (6 players) hblask is BB with K A
UTG calls, 2 folds, Button calls, SB calls, hblask raises, UTG calls, Button calls, SB folds.

Flop: 5 3 6 (7SB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, Button checks.

Turn: 3 (3.5BB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG bets, Button calls, hblask calls.

River: A (6.5BB, 3 players)
hblask checks, UTG checks, Button checks.


You ARE allowed to c-bet into 2 opponents.

I recognize that this board is coordinated.
And I highly doubt that villains will fold on the flop.
They probably have overs and will continue to chase.
But I still bet.
Because I hate check-calling.
And betting out keeps our fold equity for the turn.

The 3 on the turn paired the board and greatly increased the chances of us winning the hand.
Because if my read was right that Villains had overs, they did not pass us up on the turn.
And a bet there should take the hand down.
But probably only if we had also bet the flop.
Because our check on the flop declared that we do not have a big pair.
And thus Villains will think their overs have a much better chance of being clean and may peel the turn.
And then they could get lucky and outdraw us on the river.




HAND #15

Pre-flop: (5 players) hblask is UTG with T A
hblask raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: 6 7 Q (5SB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB calls.

Turn: T (3.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask bets, SB calls.

River: 8 (5.5BB, 2 players)
SB checks, hblask checks.


I consider 2nd pair in this hand to still have a lot of value on the river.

The only thing that beats us is the Q.
And Villain would not have checked every street with Top pair.

Villain may have nothing, or he may have a smaller piece.
But since we have little risk in betting, and there are plenty of hands that Villain could be calling down with, this is an easy value bet.



--CM

Agree with most of what CM says. Main problem is playing too many marginal hands out of position. And where you have position, playing too passively, therefore you're splashing around not knowing where your at. If you are going to cold call raises you have to have a strong post-flop game and a good read on your opponents. Also, every-time someone bets you tend to believe them. Try some check-raise bluffs if you sense weakness, re-raises if you think your opponents stealing. Mix it up a bit.

OK, thanks guys, that's what I needed. It'd be interesting to see what you thought about a session from the start of my losing streak. I know I was playing much stronger then, but a couple weeks of brutal bad beats changed my game, and I couldn't figure out how... I guess I know now. I became very gun-shy over time, and stopped believing my hand would hold up. In a couple days I'll go back to LHE and see how I do. (I'm taking a break now due to the punishment of the last couple weeks).