Having problems with TPTK

I started playing $25 NL a few weeks ago at party. I started with $200 and have worked up to >$600 but I still am learning and find myself in situations I don't quite know how to handle so I haven't moved up yet. I give you exhibit A

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

MP2 ($29.75)
MP3 ($52.44)
CO ($24.75)
Button ($31.25)
Hero ($45.60)
BB ($35.78)
UTG ($25)
UTG+1 ($36.25)
UTG+2 ($24.75)
MP1 ($39.75)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, K. Hero posts a blind of $0.10.
4 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, MP3 calls $0.25, CO calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, Hero (poster) raises to $1.9, BB calls $1.75, MP2 folds, MP3 calls $1.75, CO folds, Button calls $1.75.

Flop: ($8.50) Q, 3, A (4 players)
Hero bets $5, BB folds, MP3 calls $5, Button folds.

Turn: ($18.50) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $7, MP3 calls $7.

River: ($32.50) T (2 players)
Hero bets $6, MP3 calls $6.

Final Pot: $44.50

Not much problem here, good value

I play that exactly the same. You usually have people beat when they just call down.

The way you talk, I assume you lost, but I can't see what hand that beats you doesn't raise the river.

Don't back off on your bet sizes, at least scale back to repeat bets or check. Betting $6 on the river after $7 on the turn is a very poor blocking bet size. $7-$10 will give you less grief.

If I pegged you as a tight player I'd be tempted to come over the top of that river with a bluff. You're basicly advertising you dont have AA or QQ. As your pf bet says AA/KK/QQ/AK it doesn't leave much to the oppositions imagination.

Of course, if you have a loose tricky image this is all different.

I'd check the river. Maybe that's weak. I just don't see which weaker hands would pay me off.

NB: How is it possible that all players have 25$ or more?! I'm used to at least 3 short stacks at the table.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Don't back off on your bet sizes, at least scale back to repeat bets or check. Betting $6 on the river after $7 on the turn is a very poor blocking bet size. $7-$10 will give you less grief.

This is the problem I am having at this level. I WANT to fire off bigger bets but I can never tell what these guys are holding. I've seen some pretty strange call downs and after I get called AGAIN on the turn I'm not too sure what to think, especially being out of position.

I always see people describing players at this level as being too confident in TPTK and I just find myself not knowing where to draw the line.

PS - RESULTS:

Villian : turn over 33 for a full house

Yeah its hard to get out of the way of a Flopped set like that and you end up having to pay it off. Should have bet a bit larger on the river, if I were him I would have came over the top only fearing pocket AQ which he may have put you on if you had bet larger on the flop.

The thing that got me about this hand: Him calling 7x more BB with 33. Am I wrong in thinking this has to be a -EV play? I could see calling 3-4 more BB to see the flop but I'd much rather be the aggressor than just call with something like that.

Originally Posted by Strung

I've seen some pretty strange call downs and after I get called AGAIN on the turn I'm not too sure what to think, especially being out of position.

Great reason for a river blocking bet. Maybe (cry) and call a min-raise, fold to anything else.

Originally Posted by Strung

The thing that got me about this hand: Him calling 7x more BB with 33. Am I wrong in thinking this has to be a -EV play? I could see calling 3-4 more BB to see the flop but I'd much rather be the aggressor than just call with something like that.

If you can't tell if his play was +EV or -EV, don't play above 25NL. You clearly dont understand a couple key concepts.

Be glad your opponent sucks really bad at playing post-flop and saved you a lot of money.

I play it the same but check the river. Q with a bad kicker may play the way your opp did. I can’t imagine him calling the flop but some do with just Qs. I have to imagine I am beat after the turn call.

…just looked at results.
I can’t imagine him not raising the river. I mean, does he really think he might be beaten? Sheesh. I mean, AQ, QT would bet harder here.

No, I got my math wrong and I forgot he was a deeper stack too. $2 is only 3% of his stack so +EV, comparing to the 1/8 to hit your set.