5NL hand reviews

First off, this is long...sorry about that and thanks for looking at this all if you do.

So I recently tried playing the 5NL tables on stars moving up from 2NL. I had read that at these low limits that there isn't much difference between the average skill level of the players, but it was more of an issue of BR.

After a wildly successful first session or two, I've come to realize these games aren't quite the same. It seems that people are playing "better" poker, though I'm sure they are all fish to those who are actually good players.

What I've found first, is that people are tighter preflop. I never had a problem finding 2NL tables with players/pot 50%-60%+, at 5NL most tables are in the 30%-40% range, with only a few being higher. I also found that I'm far less likely to keep getting called down with weak hands.

Obviously this level is going to be beatable, but it seems that it's going to require some adjustments to how I was playing (and destroying) 2NL.

What has happened though, is that I'm becoming gun shy. It seems like every time that someone calls my bets through the turn, that I have a hard time betting on the river, expecting the other guy to have me beat.

I'd like to chalk up any losses to the bad side of variance, but at the same time, if I'm playing bad, I don't want to wait to fix it.

I'd like to post a few hands I've had trouble with. Some of these I continued to bet and got beat, some I bet and won, and others I folded, though it felt weak to do so.

I'm pulling these out of PT, so I don't remember much what my reads were at the time, so assume no reads.

Hand #1: I tried to avoid giving him the odds to draw for the flush, but I'm worried that he drew out on me anyhow. I know if thats the case, note that he pays too much for draws, but for this hand, do I freeze up here and just take whats in the pot already if he didn't draw out? This would also protect me from too much damage from 2pair or a set. He hasn't shown any real strength, so I might still be good, but it seems people here like to call with good hands instead of betting them.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($2.52)
SB ($3.55)
Hero ($6.07)
UTG ($2.51)
UTG+1 ($3.79)
MP1 ($1.95)
MP2 ($3.13)
MP3 ($6.40)
CO ($10.22)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, Q.
5 folds, CO calls $0.05, Button calls $0.05, SB completes, Hero raises to $0.15, CO calls $0.10, Button calls $0.10, SB calls $0.10.

Flop: ($0.60) 3, 5, Q (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.45, CO calls $0.45, Button calls $0.45, SB folds.

Turn: ($1.95) 8 (3 players)
Hero bets $1.5, CO calls $1.50, Button folds.

River: ($4.95) 9 (2 players)
Hero ???
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Hand #2: I can't put a read on this guy. What do you guys think he has and how would you act? Again, I didn't give him good odds to draw for flush, so that SHOULDN'T be what he's playing...I just don't know.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG+1 ($10.12)
MP1 ($4.31)
Hero ($6)
CO ($13.89)
Button ($4.91)
SB ($6.55)
BB ($2.95)
UTG ($3.91)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , .
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.15, 2 folds, SB calls $0.13, 1 fold.

Flop: ($0.35) , , (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.3, SB calls $0.30.

Turn: ($0.95) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1, SB calls $1.

River: ($2.95) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero ???
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand #3: A Straight could have gotten there on the turn, but I don't consider it likely. My first thought here was to push, because the size of my stack wouldn't allow a threatening bet here AND on the river. I figured I might be able to take the pot down right here, but I hate pushing w/ only TPTK. What to do?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP1 ($10)
MP2 ($7.18)
Hero ($4.73)
Button ($4.87)
SB ($15.80)
BB ($4.98)
UTG ($6.65)
UTG+1 ($3.91)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
UTG calls $0.05, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $0.15, Hero raises to $0.35, Button calls $0.35, 2 folds, UTG folds, MP2 calls $0.20.

Flop: ($1.17) , , (3 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $1, Button calls $1, MP2 calls $1.

Turn: ($4.17) (3 players)
MP2 checks, Hero ???
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand #4: Should I be too worried that he has a Q and is slowplaying it, or do I bet my top set again on the river? He could have a backdoor flush, but I'm not too worried about that...should I be?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

Button ($10.51)
SB ($7.97)
BB ($12.26)
UTG ($4.65)
Hero ($6.15)
MP1 ($3.73)
MP2 ($7.49)
MP3 ($0.33)
CO ($7.05)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , .
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.15, 6 folds, BB calls $0.10.

Flop: ($0.32) , , (2 players)
BB bets $0.2, Hero calls $0.20.

Turn: ($0.72) (2 players)
BB bets $0.15, Hero raises to $1, BB calls $0.85.

River: ($2.72) (2 players)
BB checks, Hero ???
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Hand #5 (and final hand for now): I've got the feeling, though no specific read, that this player has the other 10. AA, KK, and QQ also still have me beat. What do you put this player on, and do you cry&call or cry&fold?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

Hero ($6.62)
MP2 ($5.43)
MP3 ($4.62)
CO ($5.73)
Button ($6.97)
SB ($3.70)
BB ($3.07)
UTG ($2.57)
UTG+1 ($3)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.15, 3 folds, Button calls $0.15, 2 folds.

Flop: ($0.37) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $0.35, Button raises to $0.7, Hero calls $0.35.

Turn: ($1.77) (2 players)
Hero bets $1, Button calls $1.

River: ($3.77) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $5.12 (All-In), Hero ???

Hand 1: If I counted it right then you've got right around $4 left. I can possibly find a fold on the river against a push but it's tough to say because I don't have a feel for typical 5nl opponents.

Hand 2: I bet the turn just a little less, like $0.75-0.80, but that's probably a minor detail. On the river I'd have to say he's either on a Q or a diamond draw so I say we get some value out of the times he has a Q with a bet of about $2.

Hand 3: If you're going to 3-bet preflop, 3-bet more than that to about 2.5-3x the size of his raise. On the turn I push because of how draw-friendly the board is and the fact that your stack is down to less than the pot.

Hand 4: The time to raise is the flop, not the turn. As played I'm kind of caught between checking behind and value betting. I want to make a bet because of his weird betting but at the same time I don't know what kind of retarded stuff they'll do at 5nl so checking behind might be your best bet.

Hand 5: I don't think villain has QQ+ here. As played, I think we've got a call on the river. Your river check could have very well induced a bluff from KJ or J9 or some other random ass hand.

#1
raise more preflop. your standardraise should be around 4-6 BB, add a BB for each limper and out of the blinds, when you´ll be oop postflop u might even add another BB. Make it .35 in spots like this and hands will play easier.
As played leading the river will leave u commited, if you´re worried about the flush/villian is aggro c/c is the best option here.

#2
fine, lead river for 2/3 pot

#4
I cant see villian call with worse here, I´d check through, but I´m a nit.

#5
I´d need a strong read to fold this.


overall, your preflop raises are way to small. Think about, what those tiny raises do for you. You are playing big pots, but your opponents hand ranges arent defined after limp/calling 2BB more. You´re allowing a whole bunch of "implied odds"-hands like pp´s/sc´s to see a flop with you profitable. Dont let them in cheap and suckout on you for the right price. Players at micros want to see a flop. Thats why they sat down. Make them pay, by stealing their limped blinds and taking down medium pots with your cbets you have to make up for the times they suck out on you.

You seem to be thinking that people won’t draw to a flush if you give them bad odds to do so. Wrong thinking. You give them bad odds to draw to the flush and HOPE (and expect) them to do so. Every time you give them bad odds to draw and they do anyway then as long as you don’t pay off when they hit (justifying their estimated implied odds) you have made money. Maybe not on this hand but you have made money. So when the flush comes down I typically make a blocking bet and hope they don’t raise. If the raise is AI or too large I fold. Remember that you still made money on that folded hand. You gave them bad odds to draw and made them pay. Most of the time their draws will not come on and you will win the money.

Hand 1: I make 1/3 pot bet on the river. It is callable by a hand I beat and discourages a bluff.
Hand 2: I make 1/3 pot bet on river. I think he is playing a Q and will call with it. I am not worried he has a 7. KQ is in his range but I wouldn’t expect him to check the river with it.

Hand 1 meh check-call a smallish bet
Hand 2 bet $2 and watch him call you w/ a Q
Hand 3 flop pre. As played fire again but fold to a button raise. Original raiser could easily be on AK/AQ. Not sure about button though.
Hand 4 just check behind
Hand 5 instant call

Thanks for the help guys.

Looks like I misplayed a couple of these, but for the others I looks like i was just destined to lose some money.