Some hands - comments welcomed!

[aislephive]

So after my downswing it appears I'm back on the right track again, in my opinion I'm playing fantastic and losing the least when behind and getting good value when I'm ahead. I've really put an emphasis on pot-control, specifically with overpairs since they were what caused my downswing when I couldn't lay them down and they were costing me buyins left and right. I'm going to share a few hands with you guys that I'm unsure of how I played.

Hand 1: I rivered two pair in this hand, but with the raise on the end I really didn't think I was ahead. I figured Aces up, a flush, or a straight had me here. Thoughts ?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.10/$0.25
5 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $21.04
CO: $7.72
Button: $20.37
SB: $23.32
Hero: $27.96

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is BB with 9 K
UTG folds, CO calls $0.25, 2 folds, 2 folds, Hero checks.

Flop: K 8 T ($0.6, 2 players)
Hero bets $0.45, CO calls $0.45.

Turn: A ($1.5, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks.

River: 9 ($1.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $1, CO raises to $3.17, Hero folds.
Uncalled bets: $2.17 returned to CO.

Results:
Final pot: $3.5

Hand 2: Folded to me on the button. I make an uber LAG raise with my s00ted connector and the BB defends. I flop a gutshot and make a c-bet which he calls, the turn gave me the straight and the second nuts, and he check raised me which made me a little weary of J9, but I was pretty sure I was ahead here. I figured with him showing so much strength I could three-bet this turn, but to my surprise he folded. Did I play it too fast on the turn? Maybe just smooth call his turn raise and given that the board remains good for my hand raise him all in? Or maybe make raise his turn raise to $15 or so? I don't know, just feels like a missed opportunity to stack him.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.10/$0.25
5 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $25
CO: $67.07
Hero: $25.80
SB: $31.80
BB: $55.32

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is Button with 5 6
2 folds, Hero raises to $1, SB folds, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: 8 T 4 ($2.1, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.5, BB calls $1.5.

Turn: 7 ($5.1, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3, BB raises to $7, Hero raises all-in $20.3, BB folds.
Uncalled bets: $20.3 returned to Hero.

Results:
Final pot: $15.1

Hand 3: Everything is pretty standard until the river where I make my straight and he comes out firing. Should I raise him on the river here? As it turns out he probably couldn't call my raise, and he did call my flop bet with nothing so KQ is a hand he easily could have.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.10/$0.25
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
Hero: $37.52
UTG+1: $9.75
CO: $10.40
Button: $13.25
SB: $50.78
BB: $24.55

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is UTG with 8 8
Hero raises to $1, 3 folds, SB calls $0.9, BB folds.

Flop: 2 7 T ($2.25, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.5, SB calls $1.5.

Turn: 9 ($5.25, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: J ($5.25, 2 players)
SB bets $4, Hero calls $4.

Results:
Final pot: $13.25
SB shows 9h Kh
Hero shows 8c 8d

Hand 4: When I was telling you guys about pot-control with overpairs earlier this was a good example of what I'm doing. The board was pretty scary, especially the turn bringing the three diamonds and me not having the Ad, I just decided to check this turn and make a river bet if he checks to me again. He had top pair on this flop and I'm pretty sure I could've gotten more out of him. Am I just being results oriented? Is this a good check on the turn in the long run?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.10/$0.25
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $10.95
UTG+1: $50.63
CO: $25.65
Hero: $32.37
SB: $8.05
BB: $20.10

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is Button with A A
3 folds, Hero raises to $1, SB folds, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: 6 9 7 ($2.1, 2 players)
BB bets $0.25, Hero raises to $2, BB calls $1.75.

Turn: 3 ($6.1, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: Q ($6.1, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3, BB calls $3.

Results:
Final pot: $12.1
Hero shows Ac Ah
BB doesn't show Td 9s

Hand 5: Small stack here, this is a pretty standard play right? I got lucky on him and rivered a better full house, but you guys all do the same here right?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.10/$0.25
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $10.89
UTG+1: $5.75
CO: $19.70
Button: $51.66
SB: $24.50
Hero: $25

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is BB with Q 5
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, CO calls $0.25, Button folds, SB calls $0.15, Hero checks.

Flop: Q 2 Q ($1.25, 5 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $1, 2 folds.

Turn: K ($3.25, 2 players)
Hero bets $1.5, UTG+1 raises to $3, Hero raises to $4.5, UTG+1 calls all-in $1.5.

River: K ($12.25, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $12.25)


Results:
Final pot: $12.25
Hero shows Qc 5d
UTG+1 doesn't show 2c 2h

Thanks, look forward to your replies.

[gabe]

overall, you play good

i think i would raise the river when 88 makes the straight, and i might raise more on the flop with AA.

[zenbitz]

Hand 1... I think call the river. I bet he has AX. Am I too optimistic?

Hand 2... what calls you other than J9? set? I guess he could have a better FD. If you think is likley to have 2 spades, I like, otherwise, I probably just flat call in position.

Hand 3 ... I think I raise here. Not worried about Q8 especially since you have 2 8s.

4 & 5 I like.

[Silly String]

Hand #1, unless I have a read that says he's good, I look him up on the river. I also fire a 2nd round on the turn to see where I am with the turn Ace. No different than your river bet other than he doesn't get another card for free.

Hand #2, I like it. Get it in there with the low str8 and OEstr8-flush re-draw. Opponent looked like he liked his hand. I would expect a call more often than a fold.

Hand #3, I like the river call. The only hand calling a river raise is the nut or 2nd nut flush. Maybe the occasional donkey set or 2pr.

Hand #4, Fire again on the turn until he gives you reason not to. He is liable to All-in donkey bluff at river with air since you showed fear of the diamonds. Controlling the pot is one thing, but he hasn't given you any reason to back off the accelerator.

Hand #5, I bet half his remaining stack on the flop to induce a push. Turns out all the money was going in anyway. Short Stacks suck.

I'd say you are playing just fine.