Starting to question my game

[mikeneron]

I took a few months off, but have got back into the swing of things. Started off really well, but as of late am really wondering if my game is on the right track. I went through my last 40 or so matches since I came back and I am getting a bit more unlucky than usual, but wondered if you would have a look at my last set and see if you can spot anything with my game that needs to be fixed. Thanks in advance.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/Online-...ment-3853.html
http://www.flopturnriver.com/Online-...ment-3854.html
http://www.flopturnriver.com/Online-...ment-3855.html
http://www.flopturnriver.com/Online-...ment-3856.html

[knaplek]

You can take my views with a pinch of salt, as you're probably a much more experienced player than I am, but since no one else has said anything I might as well tell you what I think. This is all just from the first hh, I'll probably get round to reading the others later.

Most of your plays are obviously pretty standard, but I feel like you're pretty nitty late on, especially with limpers in front. Most of the limpers in this level are just weak players who don't know they should be raising or folding at the higher blind levels, and they're limping mediocre hands with which they'd like to see a flop. This is a great opportunity to get twice as much for you blind steals, even though the risk is a bit greater.

For example at the 50/100 level with about 3000 chips I think you folded KQ in mid late position behind two limpers. Personally I'd be happily bumping this up to 400 on the basis that the limpers are probably weak giving a good chance to pick up 350 chips for free, the chances of one of the players behind having a better hand is pretty low, and if you do get 3-bet you can get away from it pretty easily, as people generally 3-bet tight at this level. Otherwise getting called by a blind or limper is no bad thing as you'll probably be playing the best hand in position with dead money in the pot.

Another example came later in the game (I think four handed?) when your M was down to about 6 and had A6 in the sb. I expect you'd have shoved that if it was folded to you, and I think what the limper adds in value makes up for the added risk of having your shove called. I certainly like this spot for making a stand better than the final hand played into a raise and a reraise.

So basically I think you could just raise the aggression a bit in the late stages. Looking forward to being shot down in flames.

[knaplek]

OK, I've looked over the second one and it's mainly more of the same stuff. I think you're really being too passive, even in the early blind levels. Take folding AJ on the button to nothing but two late position limpers. AJ is a good hand. Not the nuts, don't mind a fold in early position, but against two weak limpers I just can't understand not wanting to play a hand in position with almost certainly the best cards.

Later on I think you really need to open up and try to steal a few more blinds. For example, I was surprised to see you laying down A8 on the button when folded to at 50/100 blinds. With just two more players to act you probably have the best hand and I would certainly be raising. Tbh I'd probably consider raising any ace, any pair, any broadway and maybe even some low connectors depending on my table image and the tightness of the blinds. Quite a number of other tight folds in there, most of which I won't mention, but one in particular with A10s in the small blind really stood out.

Another thing I noticed is that I don't think you ever bet when you missed the flop. While I can understand the reluctance against possible calling stations, throwing in the odd stab at a pot you think the other guy's missed can earn you some free chips and increase your chances of getting paid off on real hands.

Can't really avoid mentioning the KK hand, which I'm sure you kicked yourself for immediately. Worst possible time for a c-bet. Low stakes players just call and call rag aces. You were just folding out all worst hands and paying off all better ones.

[knaplek]

Third one I think you played pretty solid. Don't really have any major disagreements. You limped a few marginal hands early on in early-mid position, but I think that's fine if you think the table's pretty passive. I think I would have pushed on the second last hand with 88, but I can't see how you could avoid going bust on that last hand.

Fourth tournament. First hand I would have called for 20 on the river with top two. Not exactly a major decision though. Hand 4 i don't really like the early position limp with 33 with blinds at 25/50, but once you've done that I think you should be willing to call 100 more when that closes the action. It's only 1/14 of your stack, and I think you're implied odds are actually much better in a raised pot.

In the later stages you were pretty unlucky with when you got dealt hands; having to lay down AQ must have hurt. There were a few opportunities to try to steal, I think one with 77 and one with A10 where you really should have pushed utg, but none of them were ideal.