Example: Santa Fe Station 1/2 NL. I raise to $8 in early position with AQ. An old guy calls me out of the blind. Flop J-10-x. He bets out $10. I raise to $30, he calls. I miss twice and fold to a river bet.
What was I trying to accomplish here? Is some old guy just betting the flop with air? No. A 10? Probably not. Maybe K-Q, 8-9, but then he is not folding to a raise (although I have the best hand). But I bet an old guy is more likely check-calling that. He probably just has some crap like Q-J, J-x suited, or something better. So why waste the $30? Just save it for a better spot.
Or better yet, something I've been thinking about a LOT is more turn aggression. Like call the flop here. If he checks the turn, bet $25 and take it down a lot of the time. If he bets again, he has it.
I'm also considering not c-betting the flop anywhere near as much against total calling stations. Just saving that bet and making it on the turn. On the flop they expect you to bet and auto-call a lot. Or they check their monsters. On the turn if they check to you twice, its more likely they don't have much. Then you can put out the same c-bet. This seems especially true for a flop that they could see you checking back if you hit it. Like A-A-x. Or even just a ace or king high board with no draws. If you check the flop and c-bet the turn they might feel like you were trapping them on the flop.
I've been making some mistakes. For example, this weekend I called a straddle under the gun with 4-4, a guy with about $300 made it $20 and I called. Unless he is really aggressive (which most people are not) you just aren't getting paid off enough to call that IMO. I also have limped in late position with total garbage in multiway pots to try to hit something big. Like with 3-6 offsuit. Maybe not the worst idea, but that hand is just not good enough.
I've also been getting somewhat unlucky with monsters where nobody has much, or makes an insanely big fold for no reason.
Flop set of 8s on K-10-8 board with flush draw after raising pre. Bet $20, 2 callers. Turn perfect card, king. Check to me, $35, both fold.
Flop 8-9-x rainbow. I had limped with 6-7, about 4 people in. Blind bets $5. Next guy makes it $10. I call. Lady who bet $5 calls. Turn 10 - bingo. Check and guy who bet $10 now bets $16. I raise to $45. He thinks a bit and folds TOP TWO PAIR, 10-9, face up. Come on. That is not typical. KGB vs Mike McDermott situation there... I should not have been eating Oreos. Da fuck you lay that down?????? Lays down a monster.....
Flop bottom set on J-9-6 board, min-raise the drunk guy who won't shut up and is dumping all kinds of cash and he folds. Showed a jack, said he had top two but I doubt it.
Recent results (almost 17 hours of play):
Santa Fe Station 1/2 NL - Sunday July 28th : +$31
Red Rock 1/2 NL - Monday July 29th : -$130
Santa Fe Station 1/2 NL - Friday August 2nd : +$128
Red Rock 1/2 NL - Saturday August 3rd : -$13
Santa Fe Station 1/2 NL - Sunday August 4th : dead even
Santa Fe Station 1/2 NL - Monday August 5th : -$95
Overall down $79 in cash. Just really slow. Not a ton of great hands and not great action on my few big hands. I'm hanging in there though.
On the bright side, I'm loving poker lately. Totally into it. It comes and goes, but some of my best times are when I'm on a poker happiness upswing. Not making a ton of money but I'm having fun, playing smart and thinking about the game as best I can, and just enjoying it win or lose.
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