Playing A[KQ] Moving from the Party NL 0.10/0.25 to Stars NL 0.25/0.50

derick · #1 07-23-2005, 12:13 AM

Hello my 2+2 Mentors!

I sill suck at NL but for some reason was able complete the Empire bonus and not lose my shirt despite trying to play like Doyle Bunson.

I just fininshed the Empire bonus and thought I'd take a shot at clearning the new Stars bonus. I feel comfortable at the Party 0.10/0.25 NL since I beat for about 20PTBB/100 over the last 2000 hands (Yeah too small sample size I know)

So I deposited into Stars to get the bonus and checked how they pay to clear the bonus.

Bad news it looks like it will take almost forever to clear the bonus at 0.10/0.25

0.10/0.25 NL pays about $0.60 and hour in bonus.

But there is a huge jump in bonus paid out if you play higher.

0.25/0.50 NL pays about $4.20 and hour in bonus
0.50/1 NL pays about $7.01 and hour in bonus
1/2 NL pays about $8.34 and hour in bonus

So I figure even if I lose $3.60/hour at 0.25/0.50 it will still be the same rate for me compared to 0.10/0.25. So with a 7bb/hour overlay I figured I'd be ok with my crappy Party NL$25 skills.

So I decided to take a shot at the NL50 (0.25/0.50) game on Stars.

I buy in for the minimum $10 so I can watch with little risk while Pokertracker sucks up some hand history. My plan it to buy in for full if the game is good.

Before pokertracker can get enough hands on theses guys (I have no reads) I get these AK , KQo, and AQ hands.

I really need a check up on my play any comments welcome.

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PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) converter

MP2 ($15.30)
MP3 ($41.50)
CO ($46.05)
Button ($99.35)
SB ($51.70)
Hero ($10) // Bought in for the minimum
UTG ($29.50)
UTG+1 ($32)
MP1 ($43.30)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP1 raises to $2, 5 folds, 

Hero raises to $5 Facing a raise from MP I reraise $5 is this correct?

, UTG folds, MP1 raises to $15, Hero calls $5

Now I'm thinking Pushing right away all in rather than betting $5 would have been better?? Should I have folded here?? (All-In).

Flop: ($25.75) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($25.75) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($25.75) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $25.75
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A few hands later I look down and see AQo!

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) converter

UTG ($48.55)
UTG+1 ($49.25)
MP1 ($29.35)
MP2 ($59.70)
MP3 ($31.60)
Hero ($9)
Button ($13.50)
SB ($16.50)
BB ($43.25)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.50, 1 fold, 

Hero raises to $3 I raise 6 BB to make them pay to see the flop, I think I only want to see one caller at most. Thoughts?

, 1 fold, SB calls $2.75, 1 fold, UTG folds, MP2 folds.

Flop: ($7.50) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
SB bets $1, Hero raises to $6

Crap I missed, SB went into the tank to think for about 40 seconds or so. and then he bet small... I hammer it and he spends another 20 seconds or so thinking and then calls.

, SB calls $5.

Turn: ($19.50) 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)

River: ($19.50) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)

Final Pot: $19.50
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A few hands later I get AQs!!

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (8 handed) converter

BB ($48.75)
UTG ($27)
UTG+1 ($52.50)
MP1 ($37.60)
MP2 ($40.65)
Hero ($8.50)
Button ($19)
SB ($13)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2.5, 3 folds, MP2 calls $2.

I'm nost sure what to think of the min raise to 0.50. I decide to pound it up to $2.50 and see if he will fold...

Flop: ($5.75) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $6 (All-In), MP2 calls $6.

Crap I missed the flop... but the flop looks like a piece of crap. I go all in as a continuation bet and see if he will fold.. (I considered betting half the pot but 2.25 is a big chunk of 6.00 so I just pushed it all in. Should I have bet 2.25???? or just checked???

Thoughts?

Turn: ($17.75) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($17.75) 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $17.75

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A few hands later I see KQs. Nice little group 2 hand.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) converter

MP2 ($27)
MP3 ($46.50)
CO ($42.55)
Button ($109.30)
SB ($25.85)
Hero ($7.75)
UTG ($49.25)
UTG+1 ($50.85)
MP1 ($59.45)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP3 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Button raises to $2, 1 fold, Hero calls $1.50, UTG+1 folds, MP3 calls $1.50.

I figure since it's suited its ok to play with lots of people so I don't raise.

Would you have raised or called here?

Flop: ($6.75) 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks, Button bets $2.5, Hero calls $2.50, MP3 folds.

Humm with 2 aces out waht the chance that he has an ace?

Would your raise or call here?
Would you fold?

Turn: ($11.75) A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Do you think he has an ace now? Not bloody likely...

Should I have bet here??

River: ($11.75) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $3.5, Hero calls $3.25 (All-In).

Should I have bet here?

Is the call an error?

Final Pot: $18.50

What do you guys think I need to work on the most?

Should I stick with the Lower limits and forgo the bonuses?

Thanks

Derick