I am giving short handed holdem a try. Basically, I understand that variance happens, but I have no way of knowing if I am long-term winner? How many of you had rough starts? And am I just over playing my hands. It seems I slowly build my stack to 35-50, and then lose it one big swing. A few hands to demonstrate. How much do I need to lose before I know I am losing player? Or is that the wrong attitude? Thank you for your input. All of these are played on PP and I also include my brief PT stats:
V&IP=24/14 (3.3K hands, tiny sample size)
FYI my current Bank roll is at 389, started at 575 ( Initial deposit 500+ 75 bonus). Also I have no idea about reads, I am not that good yet.


Hand #1 Did I over play this?
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($22.80)
Button ($10.90)
SB ($90.64)
Hero ($25)
UTG ($25)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, A. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
UTG raises to $1, MP calls $1, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3.10) A, Q, T (3 players)
Hero bets $2, UTG raises to $7, MP calls $7, Hero raises to $12, UTG calls $17 (All-In), MP calls $14.80 (All-In), Hero calls $12 (All-In).

Turn: ($72.90) 7 (3 players, 3 all-in)

River: ($72.90) T (3 players, 3 all-in)

Final Pot: $72.90

Hand #2
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($72.37)
SB ($54.96)
Hero ($25.45)
UTG ($19.58)
MP ($28.03)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, A. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
1 fold, MP calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, SB (poster) raises to $0.9, Hero calls $0.75, MP folds, Button calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3.25) 2, Q, 5 (3 players)
SB bets $3, Hero raises to $7, Button folds, SB calls $4.

Turn: ($17.25) J (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $9, SB calls $46.96 (All-In), Hero calls $8.45 (All-In).

River: ($81.66) 9 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Hand #3
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($31.85)
Hero ($47.30)
BB ($25)
UTG ($25)
MP ($51.02)
CO ($4.85)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, Q. Hero posts a blind of $0.10. UTG posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG (poster) checks, MP raises to $1, 2 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $2.9, 1 fold, UTG folds, MP calls $2.

Flop: ($6.50) T, 2, 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $4.5, MP calls $48.02 (All-In), Hero calls $39.80 (All-In).

Turn: ($98.82) 2 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($98.82) K (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $98.82

Hand #4
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($27.31)
Button ($18.10)
SB ($25.60)
BB ($10.85)
Hero ($23.10)
MP ($21.95)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9, A. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
Hero raises to $0.5, MP calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, 1 fold, SB (poster) calls $0.40, BB calls $0.25.

Flop: ($2.50) 4, 6, K (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $1.5, MP raises to $3, CO folds, SB folds, BB folds, Hero calls $1.50.

Turn: ($8.50) T (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $2, Hero raises to $7, MP calls $5.

River: ($22.50) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

Final Pot: $22.50

Hand #5
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (4 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($25)
UTG ($18.25)
Hero ($24.78)
SB ($23.75)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, J. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: ($2.10) 2, 7, Q (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($2.10) A (2 players)
BB bets $2, Hero calls $2.

River: ($6.10) A (2 players)
BB bets $4, Hero raises to $9.09, BB calls $18 (All-In), Hero calls $12.69 (All-In).

Final Pot: $49.88

Results in white below:
BB has 2h 2d (full house, twos full of aces).
Hero has Ah Jd (three of a kind, aces).
Outcome: BB wins $49.87.

I included the result of the last hand because I do not believe it will alter the discussion. From looking over these and others it really looks like I just get trapped, how do I learn when to slow down.

-Alex