Not protecting my big hands

#1 08-24-2005, 01:51 AM

Hi,

First post although i've done alot of lurking.

I've just surpassed 5k hands at 50c/$1 and have been reviewing my history as i have lost $111.07. -1.96 BB/100 for 5644 hands. While i've lost that, technically i am winning because i play for bonuses and have my bankroll to almost $2000.

What i've found is that i often do no protect my big hands.

For example.

Party Poker 0.50/1 Hold'em (7 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is CO with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
3 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero calls, SB calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, BB folds, Hero calls.

River: (11.50 BB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 13.50 BB

Although i did not know it, this seems to be typical of me to just call a bet when i have Tp with a decent kicker from someone in EP then try to defend on the turn and river.

Am i correct in thinking that in order to protect myself that i would have been correct in raising the initial bet in better order to protect my hand ? Am i correct in thinking this is what is meant by the term protecting your big hands ?

Also i feel i am playing too tightly. My VP$IP is 7.97% and VP$SB is 18.40%. From what i've been reading here, this too is low.

On a side note, i am so glad i purchased PT and now have the option of reviewing my play. I no longer have to be concerned about raising TT where as before i would just call. Over the past 2-3 months it has helped me in being able to lay down my big hands when i know they're beat and see things in a more long term perspective.

Any comments ?

TheKentock · #2 08-24-2005, 01:56 AM

I almost always raise here. I don't think there's much question about it in this case. I think BB has a smaller ace and is testing the waters. if you raise you isolate him and he will almost certainly call you down with that ace. if he has less, he will probably fold by the river, but you still get a nice pot. Don't get fancy, this is a straightforward way to win a lot of decent pots.

Eeegah · #3 08-24-2005, 01:56 AM

Holy cow, eight percent VPIP? That is far, far too low, probably not even enough to make up for the blinds.

Reccomendation: SSHE. Buy it and read it, use its tight chart to, er, loosen up to about 15-16% VPIP, and while you're at it read up on raising to protecto your hand--hell, just memorize the book. You'll come out of it much, much stronger.

TheKentock · #4 08-24-2005, 02:00 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that in my post as well. That's way too low. If you play Twice as many hands as you currently are, you'll be in the zone that most people like around here. Definitely read SSHE and don't be afraid to get into those multiway pots with those hands that play well multiway. Pray for T9s on the button with 4 limpers. 55 in the same spot as well. These may be the places where you're leaving money on the table.

Rev. Good Will · #5 08-24-2005, 02:00 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Also i feel i am playing too tightly. My VP$IP is 7.97% and VP$SB is 18.40%. From what i've been reading here, this too is low.

[/ QUOTE ]

it is crazy low

my VPIP = 23.07%
my PFR = 13%

but then agian, i'm one of teh more laggy posters here, "nromal" numbers are around 18%/8%

#6 08-24-2005, 02:06 AM

Wow, reading your post is nuts. You're definitely too tight--loosen up! Have a few drinks, raise those TP2K on the flops to knock out bad players!

Don't worry, you'll be fine in the long run. Get some poker literature in your life, too. I know for a fact that TOP has increased my game dramatically even though I haven't played a single hand yet.

aK13 · #7 08-24-2005, 02:17 AM

Check this thread out.

Fryguy · #8 08-24-2005, 02:54 AM

I pre-flop raise more than you vpip, heh.

#9 08-24-2005, 02:58 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Check this thread out.

[/ QUOTE ]

cold_cash · #10 08-24-2005, 03:34 AM

Consider your two options on the flop: Calling or Raising.

Consider what hands your opponents might have.

Consider the pot size.

If you call the flop the SB will be getting 8:1 from the pot. What kind of hands can he call profitably with? Could he have one of those hands? (Think about how this changes if, say, the pot had been capped pre-flop and instead of 2 opponents you have 4.)

*Will he call two-bets just as easily as he'll call one, regardless of the size of the pot?

*Very important to know.

FWIW, if this was heads up I just call that flop bet a lot of the time.