Flush draw

It really seems like there is NOTHING I can do to get people off a flush draw often times in micro games and it really seems like they ALWAYS hit it! It's ridiculous. Anything I should have done differently in this hand?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) converter

CO ($1)
Button ($3.18)
SB ($4.88)
BB ($1.87)
UTG ($4.10)
UTG+1 ($1.76)
MP1 ($1.42)
MP2 ($1.46)
Hero ($5.31)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with Q, A. CO posts a blind of $0.02.
UTG calls $0.02, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $0.08, Hero calls $0.08, CO (poster) calls $0.06, 3 folds, UTG calls $0.06.

Flop: ($0.35) Q, 6, 7 (4 players)
UTG checks, MP2 bets $0.12, Hero raises to $0.24, CO folds, UTG folds, MP2 calls $0.12.

Turn: ($0.83) 7 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $0.4, MP2 calls $0.40.

River: ($1.63) 7 (2 players)
MP2 bets $0.74 (All-In), Hero folds.

Final Pot: $2.37
Main Pot: $1.63, won by MP2.
Pot 2: $0.74, returned to MP2.

Results in white below:
MP2 doesn't show.
Outcome: MP2 wins $2.37.

Uh, I think you had a full house.

I hope you don’t fold your full house hands too often!

Ignoring that, if everyone chases flush draws you should be happy! All you have to do is bet enough to make it incorrect for them to chase the flush. This doesn’t mean that they won’t chase or that you will win, but it the long run you will win more.

In one of Radashack’s posts (I can’t find it right now so I’ll paraphrase) he says, if they call your ¾ of the pot bet, try betting the pot or 2 times the pot, or put them all-in (This isn’t exactly what he said, but it is the same idea, find out where they are uncomfortable.)

If you know you have the best of this hand, other than the flush draw, bet every time. Remember, even if they do call, you should be happy. If you bet enough, it is great if they lay down, but an even higher EV if they call.

Holy shit, I did have a full house!

You also forget you are playing the microlimits. Often enough People play anything and everything here, I wouldn't be surprised if the guy had 72o beating you at this level.

Enjoy the flush chasers while they last. Theres nothing you can do about them except try and give them incorrect odds everytime. If they hit, oh well, try again next time.

Holy shit, I did have a full house!

Ouch!

2 things.
1. You got caught up thinking about those darn flush draws you missed the fact that you had a full house.

2. I think you need to move up to .25/.50. You post many hands that people refuse to fold to at those limits. Even at .25/.50 people chase, but most of the hands you post would get people to fold at the higher level. It's more money at stake, but you seem to have a grasp on how to play correctly - you just don't get the respect from your raises and you are losing money.

This is just my opinion. I don't know your situation.

r8ed,

1. I certainly did

2. I'm worried, because I have made about 20 dollars at the 1/2 penny tables but the past week or so hasn't been so good to me. I feel like I should be consistently winning at these limits. My bankroll is also only 70 dollars, and I don't want to risk a large portion of it on my first experience at the 25/50 tables and lose it.

The max buy-in at those limits is $25 so you may want to give it a whirl and stop if you lose the $25. It seems like you would reduce losing to flush/straight chasers with your better hands. I only recommend the jump if you keep your playing style. If you feel you will play scared, then don't bother.

I started playing for real money at .25/.50 at Pokerroom .com, and I can vouch for their playing a bit better, but you will still have your occasional player trying to draw out on the flush.

But you don't have to worry much if you hit your full house. Just remember to hit the 'Raise' button.

All my money is in pokerstars right now. Would it be ok to play 25/50 there? Maybe I should just move up to the 5/10 right now?

In a cash game, theoretically you want to bet the highest amount that a chaser will still call. This will give you the highest EV, even higher than getting them to fold. The one rule is you must always bet at least enough to give them incorrect pot odds.

I wouldn't move up until you know you are beating the current game you're playing.

Originally Posted by mcpeepants

All my money is in pokerstars right now. Would it be ok to play 25/50 there? Maybe I should just move up to the 5/10 right now?

mcpeepants, recently I got tired of the NL microswings and decided to try and play limit to build up the bankroll. Its been treating me well lately. I would recommend against the jump beyond .05/.1 with your bankroll unless you don't mind reloading... Even to .05/.1 you are at risk unless you are a very low variance player.

- sed

I don't know about limit... I haven't really played too much and it just seems like people would stay in the whole time in microlimit games.

Originally Posted by mcpeepants

r8ed,

1. I certainly did

2. I'm worried, because I have made about 20 dollars at the 1/2 penny tables but the past week or so hasn't been so good to me. I feel like I should be consistently winning at these limits. My bankroll is also only 70 dollars, and I don't want to risk a large portion of it on my first experience at the 25/50 tables and lose it.

Play .05/.10

I normally play .25/.50 NL and .50/1.00 NL, but I started playing nickel dime NL and have been reaming that game for nearly as much as my normal limits.

Originally Posted by r8ed

2. I think you need to move up to .25/.50. You post many hands that people refuse to fold to at those limits. Even at .25/.50 people chase, but most of the hands you post would get people to fold at the higher level. It's more money at stake, but you seem to have a grasp on how to play correctly - you just don't get the respect from your raises and you are losing money.

This is just my opinion. I don't know your situation.

´

If he doesn't even notice when he has a full house, he should do anything but move up the limits. Practice is what he needs.

i'm with coco on this one. easy to brush off losing a buck or two by folding a full house. it's harder to brush off losing 20.

On the other hand, if you're not paying attention because you're getting bored, stepping up to .05/.10 might not be a bad move. the increase in stakes can help your concentration, but you'd be playing on a very think bankroll, so perhaps set aside fifty bucks and stuff it in the mattress or something. if you bust out of stars, you won't have to start from zero... ie, inflate your bankroll to cover the higher stakes.

I'd also say don't move to .25/.50 until you have the bankroll. make only small changes until you figure out exactly what's wrong. A little step in limits won't kill ya, just don't be afraid to step back if you lose.

I didn't notice the full house because I was concentrating too much on the flush draw. I think cocco is right. Shouldn't I be fairly consistently winning?