Hi. Quick background: I used to post on FTR a lot but it's been a while. Recently I've gotten back into poker again and hope to be active on FTR again. In the past I played a lot of LHE, got pretty good, won some money, eventually got bored. Then I played a lot of NL tournaments (mix of SNG and MTT), got pretty good, won some money, a few big tournaments, eventually got bored. Now I want to get good at NL, so here are some hands to critique.


Hand 1

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

BB ($88.45)
UTG ($65.35)
UTG+1 ($20.75)
MP1 ($16.25)
MP2 ($62.60)
Hero (MP3) ($61.65)
CO ($67.45)
Button ($50)
SB ($50.70)

Just recently got to the table, have played very few hands. Table generally loose, passive-to-average aggression, lots of limping preflop, a few raises. UTG was very loose, playing about 50% of the pots, and a round or so ago I saw him lose his whole stack with TPTK, against an obvious straight, so he looked like a prime target for hitting a good hand against.

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 2, 2
UTG raises to $2, 1 fold, MP1 calls $2, 1 fold, Hero calls $2, 4 folds

Figured I had implied odds for a call, especially with UTG in the pot.

Flop: ($6.75) 4, J, 2 (3 players)
UTG bets $3.50, MP1 calls $3.50, Hero raises to $12, UTG raises to $20.50, MP1 calls $10.75 (All-In), Hero raises to $59.65 (All-In), UTG calls $39.15

I realize that by the time the action heated up on the flop, this would be a hand where it would be hard for me not to win a lot of money (barring an unlucky JJ or a suck out), but just want to check that my play looks good.

Turn: ($140.30) 6 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($140.30) 3 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $140.30 | Rake: $3


Hand 2

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

BB ($50)
UTG ($11.75)
UTG+1 ($10.95)
MP1 ($55.40)
Hero (MP2) ($157.10)
CO ($28.35)
Button ($55.15)
SB ($69.40)

Same table, several rounds later, still pretty loose, even more passive than before.

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 6, K
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, MP1 calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, CO raises to $1, 3 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.50, MP1 calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50

I think my call here was probably too loose, with a weak suited king. I think I only called because I hadn't played a hand in a few rounds and was getting antsy.

Flop: ($4.75) 2, 3, 8 (4 players)
UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero checks, CO bets $1.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $1.50

Forunately, my draw came on the flop. Flop call for odds.

Turn: ($7.75) Q (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $3.50, Hero calls $3.50

Turn I'm not so sure if I can call. CO only recently came to the table, somewhat short stacked, so I had no great reads. I don't have odds, but figured I could earn a bet on the turn to make up for it if I hit a flush, and even a K might be good for a check/call. Yes?

River: ($14.75) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $10, CO calls $10

I hit and didn't want to pass up on losing the bet if he checked behind, so I bet out. Would a check/raise usually be better? If not, was $10 into a $15 pot a good bet?

Total pot: $34.75 | Rake: $1.70


Hand 3

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flow

MP2 ($29.40)
MP3 ($50)
CO ($14.15)
Button ($7.25)
SB ($41.75)
Hero (BB) ($177.35)
UTG ($19.60)
UTG+1 ($54.40)
MP1 ($50.75)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 10, 9
UTG calls $0.50, 6 folds, SB calls $0.25, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.50) 8, 4, 8 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets $1, 1 fold, Hero folds

Looks like a flop that nobody is likely to have hit. Should I bluff here?

Total pot: $1.50 | Rake: $0.05


Good news is won 3 buy-ins my first session. Hurray sets! I'm sure I'll lose it all back my next few sessions though as I run into less easy spots.