How could i have played this better?

Hey guys,

I am new here and only just started playing holdem for real money yesterday. Here is a hand i have questions about. I am hoping you can help. My strategy is not perfect(1 day of reading) so please point out any stupid things, im still a little unsure of how to know how much to bet etc. anyway.. Im thinking with the 'kk' pocket cards i should have raised a lot higher before the flop ?

Texas Hold'em $0.25-$0.25 NL (real money), #846,224,523
Seat 2: birdsbite ($14.60 in chips)
Seat 5: sajjjan ($9.60 in chips)
Seat 6: Needsumfunds ($4.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Thunderclees ($26.15 in chips)
Seat 8: blinnd ($10 in chips)
Seat 9: sten123 ($47.55 in chips)
Seat 10: trigger18 ($8.25 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
Needsumfunds posts blind ($0.15), Thunderclees posts blind ($0.25), blinnd posts blind ($0.25), trigger18 posts blind ($0.25).

PRE-FLOP
blinnd bets $0.25, sten123 calls $0.50, trigger18 calls $0.25, birdsbite folds, sajjjan calls $0.50, Needsumfunds folds, Thunderclees calls $0.25.

FLOP [board cards AH,4D,QD ]
Thunderclees checks, blinnd bets $0.25, sten123 folds, trigger18 calls $0.25, sajjjan calls $0.25, Thunderclees folds.

TURN [board cards AH,4D,QD,2H ]
blinnd checks, trigger18 checks, sajjjan checks.

RIVER [board cards AH,4D,QD,2H,JC ]
blinnd checks, trigger18 checks, sajjjan checks.

SHOWDOWN
blinnd shows [ KH,KS ]
trigger18 shows [ 3C,AC ]
sajjjan mucks cards [ KC,8H ]
trigger18 wins $3.25.

You should've raised before the flop came out. A typical pre-flop raise is usually 4 times the big blind.

Even then, the flop was so-so for you. Because if somebody called your pre-flop, more than likely they have an Ace and you're already beat. On the flop, you should've bet higher than the minimum. You should've at least bet the pot size or even more to scare those aces away.

Whoever would call your bet on the flop, more than likely has an Ace, is on a straight/flush draw, are still holding on to their pocket pairs like you are, or worse, has two pair.

The turn, you know, didn't help anyone, and I most likely would've kept betting really high. Those aces might have called me.

The river, you might have tried to bluff and scare the aces away, but your luck you might be playing a huge fish and he caught his straight.

I think your check on the turn was a huge give away. That is where you try to draw people out. And your check on the river was a weak sign.

I'd recommend practicing with play money first, then if you feel confident, go for the real deal.

Thanks for the quick answer.

I guess the reason i was trying real is because most play games seem unrealistic as the avg players seeing the flop is often 80%+

Is a normal beginners progression to start in Limit holdem games then to PL then to NL games? Or should you just start in NL ?

It doesn't matter that much. PL are much easier at first, since they tell you how your cards and community cards matter. I learned a lot about different possibilities, guessing what the other player may be holding, etc. I'd say see how you do in PL first, then try NL.