are these hands conceptually similar?

i'm wondering if my play in these two hands are ok.

HAND 1

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($18.40)
Button ($15)
SB ($19.30)
BB ($9.90)
Hero ($48.80)
MP ($10)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, K. Hero posts a blind of $0.35.
Hero (poster) raises to $1, 2 folds, Button calls $1, 2 folds.

Flop: ($2.45) T, 2, K (2 players)
Hero bets $1.75, Button raises to $4, Hero calls $2.25.

Turn: ($10.45) J (2 players)
Hero bets $10.5, Button calls $10 (All-In).

River: ($30.45) 8 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $30.45

villain had KQ off and i took it down.

HAND 2

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($6.05)
Button ($18.90)
Hero ($58.50)
BB ($20.70)
UTG ($5.15)

Preflop: Hero is SB with

A, K.
3 folds, Hero raises to $1, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: ($2) 6, 8, A (2 players)
Hero bets $1.75, BB calls $1.75.

Turn: ($5.50) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $4.25, BB raises to $10, Hero raises to $55.75, BB calls $7.95 (All-In).

River: ($41.40) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $41.40

honestly... after his turn raise... i felt he had two pair. his HUD stats indicated passivity and low PFR%. so i'm guessing he is a player that would call OOP with a hand like A8.

i have improved my ring game play tremendously by reading the articles here at FTR. i especially LOVE this general rule... if you can beat AA you have the nuts and should try to get it all in.

i post these two hands because they break that rule... yet i think they are both reasonable plays... HAND 2 could've been folded given the info i had on HUD. but if i'm gonna fold that hand... then the same argument could be made to play HAND 1 more cautiously... which would be terrible... although we all know the fish will get it all in with KQ (HAND 1).

so given the "if you can beat AA" rule... please comment on these two hands.

thanks.

I tend to find that at these limits if anyone raises you after the flop, they normally have you beat.

Sometimes on the flop it's just because they think you c-bet too much, or they're tired of you constantly hitting. But when they call the flop and raise a seemingly blank turn expect to see 2pair/set here quite often.

When i play $25 i tend to get it all in in the first scenario, but something in me finds a fold for hand 2 as every time i make a crying call it's a set or 2pair...

Clar

hand 1 is standard given his short stack.

hand 2: VPIP is the stat you want to look at over PFR here. Just because he has a low PFR doesnt mean anything because he didnt raise preflop. If villains one of your typical 50/5 donks then the hand is fine imo.

also, dont include results. it skews peoples answers.

I'm guessing from your post on the 2nd hand that you won the first but yet lost the second, and that is where my logic applies!

Maybe as you start going up to $50+ you get tricky tag players raising with combo draws and air on the turn trying to take you off hands but at this limit i'd just stick to getting it all in with top 2pair or better and you'll make money in the long run no problem.

Don't get me wrong it's ok to bet TPTK, you just gotta be able to lay it down too As long as they just call on every street and don't raise you're fine. Soon as that first raise comes in i like having a set :P lol

Clar

Originally Posted by bode

hand 1 is standard given his short stack.

hand 2: VPIP is the stat you want to look at over PFR here. Just because he has a low PFR doesnt mean anything because he didnt raise preflop. If villains one of your typical 50/5 donks then the hand is fine imo.

One other thing, your raises are hella weak, so try to make them stronger. For example, make the raise in hand 1 $4.5 or $5, and in hand 2, i think most people agree with me here, just shove if you are going to raise there.

Here is why:
You should've made it $13 to go instead of $10. Now, that leaves you with $4 extra, so if and when he overshoves, it sucks. However, if you just shove, you get a lot more FE there.