An absolute beginner here, at least in money games, so an absolute beginner who knows the rules.
It's early days and I'm not doing well; the weak players who should (at least I am told in the seed capital e-mail) not be posing any problems for me as someone who has read and taken to heart the beginners section... are. (Although I've yet to have the fortune of having playable cards while an utter maniac is still at the table.) There's a temptation to put it down to the natural variance of results in poker but I've classified that impulse as dangerous and decided to seek advice sooner rather than later with a sample of more or less significant hands.
1.
I think I was too passive here and didn't bet enough generally, although it seemed to work out well enough.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.04 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)
SB ($4.64)
BB ($4.96)
UTG ($3.32)
UTG+1 ($5.91)
MP1 ($5.63)
MP2 ($6.23)
CO ($10.88)
Hero ($1.90)
Preflop: Hero is Button with A♣, J♠.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.04, 2 folds, CO calls $0.04, Hero raises to $0.2, SB calls $0.18, 1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.16, CO folds.
Flop: ($0.68) 3♣, 9♥, 3♠ (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($0.68) Q♥ (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $0.45, SB folds, UTG+1 calls $0.45.
River: ($1.58) 3♦ (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $0.5, UTG+1 folds.
Final Pot: $2.08
2.
Again, should I have bet higher (on the flop this time)? Or not at all with those cards on the table? And I know I probably shouldn't've been in the hand at all, but it's the post-flop play I feel uneasy about.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.04 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)
UTG+1 ($4.40)
MP1 ($4.88)
MP2 ($4.96)
MP3 ($3.34)
CO ($5.16)
Button ($2.04)
SB ($6.43)
BB ($10.84)
Hero ($2.78)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9♣, 9♦.
Hero calls $0.04, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.04, 1 fold, MP3 calls $0.04, 2 folds, SB raises to $0.2, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.16, MP1 calls $0.16, MP3 folds.
Flop: ($0.68) 8♥, A♦, 6♦ (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.5, MP1 folds, SB folds.
Final Pot: $1.18
3.
Just so that I can feel properly ashamed of myself and take better care in the future, doing anything but aiming to go all in here is crazy, right? I mean obviously I don't need to ask that, but this was absolutely inexcusable... right?
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.04 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)
MP1 ($4.16)
MP2 ($6.08)
Hero ($3.04)
Button ($1.76)
SB ($4.29)
BB ($2.40)
UTG ($2.99)
UTG+1 ($5.38)
Preflop: Hero is CO with A♠, 8♠.
4 folds, Hero calls $0.04, Button calls $0.04, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($0.16) 6♥, A♥, A♣ (4 players)
SB checks, BB bets $0.1, Hero folds, Button folds, SB folds.
Final Pot: $0.26
4.
And finally one that went to a showdown. I think I should've made a pot bet on the flop but can't see anything else obviously wrong with this hand. I'm hoping that more experienced eyes may say otherwise if there is.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)
UTG+2 ($1.26)
MP1 ($14.39)
MP2 ($2.15)
MP3 ($5.85)
CO ($1.75)
Button ($2)
SB ($2.05)
BB ($11.15)
Hero ($3.70)
UTG+1 ($1.98)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with J♦, J♣.
Hero raises to $0.35, 4 folds, MP3 calls $0.35, 4 folds.
Flop: ($0.85) K♣, 9♣, J♠ (2 players)
Hero bets $0.55, MP3 calls $0.55.
Turn: ($1.95) 8♦ (2 players)
Hero bets $2, MP3 calls $2.
River: ($5.95) T♣ (2 players)
Hero bets $0.8 (All-In), MP3 calls $0.80.
Final Pot: $7.55
