Overall
--------
This was my first session playing the $50 tables. As everyone said the play is just about as bad as the $25 tables but with larger stacks.

I am still a little intimidated by the bets. It isn’t really the bets as much as it is my session W/L. I automatically adjust all bets to stack sizes anyways so that doesn’t really phase me, but it does when I am down $15 bucks. That would be a really bad session at the $25 tables but only a dry run of 100 cards at the $50 tables.

I also realized that I am playing more timidly with TP type hands. This is really not good because I have trouble figuring out what to do with them on the $25 tables so I am going to have major issues if I play them scared at the $50 tables.

I am going to play 2 tables for a little while until I feel comfortable, then I will bump it back to 4. I am not sure if this is a great idea because I feel more uncomfortable playing 2 tables because I get hands to play less frequently. Sometimes I catch myself starting to get nervous because I haven’t had AA/KK/QQ in a long time. Then I realize I have been playing 2 tables and have only got 100 hands in.

This specific session was strange. I didn’t win a hand for the first $60 and was $15 in the hole when I stacked someone with a set. Then I got QQ and took 3/4 of another players stack on a Q44 flop. I only showed down 1 hand and only had 2 hands that were any reasonable winners. Notice the W$SF and WtSD numbers.

Stats
-----------
Hands: 120
VP$IP: 21.7
W$SF: 35.5
WtSD: 3.23
W$SD: 100
WL: 43.93

The Good
-----------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

BB ($55.09)
UTG ($83.50)
UTG+1 ($124.76)
UTG+2 ($14.55)
Hero ($56.85)
MP2 ($45)
MP3 ($43.60)
CO ($89.39)
Button ($44.50)
SB ($49.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
3 folds, Hero calls $0.50, 2 folds, CO calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, SB (poster) completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.50) , , (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks, CO checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($2.50) (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $2, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds.

Final Pot: $4.50

I really like this steal here. This bet makes it look like I have just made the flush. Couple that with the fact that nobody showed interest in the flop and might have some outs (not a total bluff) and I like this play.

The Bad
----------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

BB ($11.13)
UTG ($49)
UTG+1 ($26.40)
MP1 ($33.30)
MP2 ($64.75)
MP3 ($17.40)
Hero ($48.75)
Button ($53.95)
SB ($65.45)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: ($3.25) , , (6 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 bets $1, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $3, Button folds, BB calls $3, UTG folds, MP1 raises to $5, Hero calls $2, BB calls $7.63 (All-In), MP1 calls $5.63, Hero folds.

I don't like the call of the min raise because there was a short stack behind me who was likely to go all in. I need to pay better attention of the size of stacks in the hand with me.

The Questions
-----------------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

MP2 ($52.45)
MP3 ($50)
CO ($23)
Hero ($49.90)
SB ($122.65)
BB ($32.60)
UTG ($122.27)
UTG+1 ($37.60)
MP1 ($35.98)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , . MP3 posts a blind of $0.50. SB posts a blind of $0.25.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP3 (poster) checks, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, SB (poster) raises to $2.75, BB calls $2.50, MP1 calls $2.50, MP3 folds, Hero calls $2.50.

Flop: ($12.50) , , (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, MP1 bets $10, Hero calls $10, SB folds, BB folds.

Turn: ($32.50) (2 players)
MP1 calls $22.98 (All-In), Hero calls $22.98.

River: ($78.46) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $78.46

What do you guys feel about the flat call on the flop? SB was a manic so I was hoping that he was playing an overpair and was looking to CR. I figured that I could get both stacks if that was the case. If I got a cold call from behind and the flush card fell I would be pretty sure I was behind but I still have position and outs to fill up. Was I getting greedy?

Hand 1: I'm not sure why that is such a good hand but I think you might have had the best hand and possibly the best draw.

Hand 2: I might have called here, with a player all in the other player is likely to check the turn plus if your gut shot gets there you are going to take his stack. This is a high variance play, your play was fine.

Hand 3: Bad monkey, bad monkey and did I mention bad monkey. I want you to go to one of those chalk boards at Carnigie Mellon and write down "I will not slow play my sets, on a coordinated board" Write this 100 times then come and talk to me. With a $10 bet, your opponant is trying to protect his hand, you calling behind gives all kinds of draws odds to call. Your opponant is not folding to a raise here, as a rule I am always happy with one persons stack, to often trying to get greedy costs you the most important thing, winning the pot. Another problem with calling is that if that diamond does fall you arent going to get anyones stack even if they dont have the flush.

Overall
--------
I played the worst poker that I have ever played for the first 1/2 hour then settle down and played well. The size of the bets are still scaring me and worse I am not playing like I did at the $25 tables. I am playing much more LAGy and I have no idea why. I am feeling uncomfortable and making bets / raises that I don’t usually make. I would have expected that I would tighten up when I went up limits but I am doing the opposite.

I had a very high W$SF because of lots of flop steals and semi-bluffs but I didn’t get very many hands to showdown. I would really like to see what I could do at these tables if I could get my WtSD up to a reasonable number.

Stats
-----------
Hands: 333
VP$IP: 19.22
W$SF: 33.33
WtSD: 6.41
W$SD: 80
WL: 6.41

The Good
-----------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

SB ($74.58)
BB ($86.32)
UTG ($35.60)
UTG+1 ($66.50)
MP1 ($35.66)
MP2 ($31.83)
MP3 ($61.45)
CO ($52.55)
Hero ($57.62)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
6 folds, Hero calls $0.50, SB (poster) completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.50) , , (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $1.4, Hero calls $1.40, SB folds.

Turn: ($4.30) (2 players)
BB bets $2, Hero raises to $6, BB calls $4.

River: ($16.30) (2 players)
BB bets $3, Hero calls $3.

Final Pot: $22.30

I flat call on the flop because this guy had been very aggressive on the flop and been more passive on the turn, so I wanted to see what he did on the turn. Overall I think that I got decent value with minimal risk out of this hand.

The Bad
----------
Hand 1
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

Button ($73.75)
SB ($76.65)
BB ($21.50)
UTG ($49.25)
UTG+1 ($78.65)
MP1 ($67)
Hero ($50)
MP3 ($45.25)
CO ($50.20)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, 2 folds, Button raises to $3, 2 folds, UTG+1 folds, Hero calls $2.50.

Flop: ($7.25) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $3, Hero raises to $6, Button raises to $15, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $28.25

The min raise was actually a mis-click. I meant to raise more but after my min-raise got CRed I am happy that I didn't.


Hand 2
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

UTG ($48.20)
UTG+1 ($26.45)
MP1 ($23.35)
MP2 ($39.44)
MP3 ($100.89)
CO ($28.80)
Hero ($67.25)
SB ($49.50)
BB ($43.67)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, MP1 calls $0.50, 2 folds, CO raises to $2, Hero calls $2, 2 folds, UTG+1 calls $1.50, MP1 calls $1.50.

Flop: ($8.75) , , (4 players)
UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, CO checks, Hero bets $6, UTG+1 raises to $12, MP1 folds, CO folds, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $26.75

This was a raised family pot with QQ on the board. This is a prime situation to get CRed. Why didn't I just take the free card, try to spike my 2 outter and bust someone.

These are plays that I don’t usually make (or at list didn’t make at the $25 tables w/o reads). I don't mind playing more aggressively but without reads these just aren't good times to bluff.


The Questions
-----------------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

UTG+2 ($82.95)
MP1 ($92.32)
MP2 ($17.40)
MP3 ($35.60)
CO ($50.55)
Button ($35.66)
SB ($32.58)
BB ($56.30)
UTG ($53.30)
Hero ($48.65)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, UTG+2 raises to $1.87, 7 folds, Hero calls $1.37.

Flop: ($4.49) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $3, UTG+2 raises to $6, Hero raises to $15, UTG+2 folds.

Final Pot: $25.49

My opponent is loose pre-flop with average aggression. However he doesn’t go to showdown very often and usually shows down winners. On that table I hadn’t gotten a hand in forever so I have a very tight image. I really debated flat calling and then CR on a non diamond, but after getting lectured about slowplaying a set on a coordinated board I decided to raise. What do you guys think?

Well to be honest Kid I really dont dislike any of your plays here.

Hand 1: I like the way you played it, raising the turn instead of the flop gives you the option to check behind on the river, though it does mean you are raising into a larger pot and it can also cost you more if you get reraised.

Hand 1 from the Bad: I really dont think this is a bad play at all, of course I didnt see his preflop raise stats, quite often he will have AK or AQ, and you will win the pot.

Hand 2: Same as above though you will be behind AQ of course, if your raise gets called you need to be ready to fold, though I still like the play, you may even get somone to fold a better hand than yours.

Hand Question: Though often times a min raise equals a monster there are also players who like to use it as a probing bet. My guess is this guy had TP with a moderate kicker and wanted to know where he was in the hand. Still I like the re-raise, there are to many bad cards that scare you on the turn.

Overall
--------
Do I have “Play back at me tattooed on my forehead?” because today it really felt like I did. Every time that I tried to make a positional play with a strong I get CRed big. Every time I made the same play with a monster everyone would fold. Garrr.

Sorry this is going to turn into a bit of a bitch session.

Stats
-----------
Hands: 393
VP$IP: 13.74
W$SF: 23.32
WtSD: 14.86
W$SD: 72.73
WL: -47.03

The Good
-----------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

UTG ($29.92)
UTG+1 ($96.35)
MP1 ($49.25)
MP2 ($46.30)
MP3 ($47.25)
Hero ($55.25)
Button ($39.50)
SB ($49)
BB ($42.15)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, 4 folds, Hero calls $0.50, 1 fold, SB (poster) completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($2) , , (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $2, SB folds, BB calls $2, UTG folds.

Turn: ($6) (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4, BB calls $4.

River: ($14) (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $14

I really like the river check. Even though it looks like that river was great for me there really isn’t anything that I would call the flop pot bet that I didn’t beat before but I now beat. My opponents passive play really felt like a flush draw I think that he would have CRed with the 9, so I think my river check is the best play.

The Bad
----------
Hand 1
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

MP3 ($53.65)
CO ($44.90)
Button ($46.75)
SB ($55.10)
BB ($38.50)
UTG ($72.67)
UTG+1 ($61.90)
Hero ($47.75)
MP1 ($50.85)
MP2 ($156.74)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 2 folds, MP3 raises to $10, Hero folds.

Grrrrr.

Hand 2
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

UTG+1 ($48.85)
MP1 ($48)
MP2 ($55.60)
MP3 ($38.60)
CO ($73.17)
Button ($61.90)
Hero ($48)
BB ($49.75)
UTG ($156.59)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , . Hero posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG raises to $6, 8 folds.

Final Pot: $6.75

That is a huge raise from UTG. I want to play a giant pot against a UTG raiser so I folded.

Hand 3:
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

CO ($81.60)
Button ($49.35)
SB ($40)
BB ($53.60)
UTG ($63.20)
UTG+1 ($79.12)
UTG+2 ($77.90)
Hero ($47.75)
MP2 ($62.35)
MP3 ($137.69)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, UTG+1 raises to $2.5, 1 fold, Hero calls $2.50, 2 folds, CO calls $2.50, 2 folds, BB calls $2, UTG calls $2.

Flop: ($12.75) , , (5 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $10, CO folds, BB calls $51.10 (All-In), UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, Hero folds.

He wasn’t even the PFR raiser. Garrr.

Hand 4:
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

Hero ($44.75)
CO ($48)
Button ($48.70)
SB ($75.55)
BB ($49.50)
UTG ($29.50)
UTG+1 ($101.60)
MP1 ($29.80)
MP2 ($96.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
4 folds, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, Button calls $2, 1 fold, BB calls $1.50.

Flop: ($6.25) , , (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4, Button raises to $10, BB folds, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $20.25

All the players behind me were tight, so I was trying to steal and then someone with a VP$IP of 13 woke up. Gah!

And my personal favorite Hand 5:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)

Hero ($50)
MP1 ($43.10)
MP2 ($28.50)
MP3 ($55.25)
CO ($16.95)
Button ($36.05)
SB ($28.85)
BB ($24.75)
UTG ($50)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, MP1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP3 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Button calls $0.50, SB (poster) completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($3) , , (6 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $3, MP1 folds, MP3 folds, Button calls $3, SB folds, BB folds.

Turn: ($9) (2 players)
Hero bets $4, Button calls $4.

River: ($17) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $10, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $27

Gotta love the board making a str8 and completing a flush when you have a set.

Overall
--------
I keep losing tons and tons of midsized pots where I don’t make it to showdown. I show strength and someone comes over the top. Looking through PT I see 7 hands where I lost more then $5 and I only made it to showdown once. I only won 3 hands > $5 and I only showed down once.

This means that I am getting pushed off of my good hands and not getting paid off on my monsters.

Also with 4.75 aggression on the flop my W$SF is only 22 which means I am not even stealing effectively.

Stats
-----------
Hands: 331
VP$IP: 16.92
W$SF: 21.74
WtSD: 15.94
W$SD: 45.45
WL: 2.39

The Good
-----------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

Button ($80.75)
Hero ($49.50)
BB ($51.15)
UTG ($28.05)
UTG+1 ($36.15)
UTG+2 ($37.80)
MP1 ($113.13)
MP2 ($49)
MP3 ($52.40)
CO ($46.25)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , . Hero posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG raises to $1, 2 folds, MP1 calls $1, 4 folds, Hero (poster) calls $0.75, 1 fold.

Flop: ($3.50) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $5, MP1 calls $5, Hero calls $48.50 (All-In), UTG folds, MP1 folds.

Final Pot: $62

The pre-flop call was marginal but I like the flop CR all in. I really don’t want to be OOP if I miss the turn and I think that all in has good fold equity.

The Bad
----------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (10 handed)

SB ($80.70)
Hero ($58.60)
UTG ($50.15)
UTG+1 ($23.90)
UTG+2 ($15.15)
MP1 ($50.75)
MP2 ($108.43)
MP3 ($67.50)
CO ($52.60)
Button ($45.25)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.50, 6 folds, Hero checks.

Flop: ($1.25) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+2 bets $1.2, Hero calls $1.20.

Turn: ($3.65) (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+2 bets $1, Hero calls $1.

River: ($5.65) (2 players)
Hero bets $4, UTG+2 calls $4.

Final Pot: $13.65

Results in white below:
Hero has Ts 6s (one pair, queens).
UTG+2 has Ah 7d (two pair, queens and sevens).
Outcome: UTG+2 wins $13.65.

Don’t bluff calling stations. He called a pot sized river bet when there were tons and tons of hands that destroy his. Why don't I just wait for TT, or the flopped str8 and play this exactly the same way.


The Just Plain Dirty
-------------------------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (9 handed)

SB ($104.90)
Hero ($48.25)
UTG ($29.85)
UTG+1 ($48.35)
MP1 ($80.10)
MP2 ($64.36)
MP3 ($62.27)
CO ($33.15)
Button ($50.13)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.50, 1 fold, CO calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, SB (poster) completes, Hero checks.

Flop: ($3) , , (6 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.5, UTG calls $1.50, MP2 calls $1.50, CO raises to $5, Button folds, SB folds, Hero calls $3.50, UTG calls $3.50, MP2 calls $3.50.

Turn: ($23) (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP2 bets $8, CO raises to $20, Hero folds, UTG calls $24.35 (All-In), MP2 folds, CO calls $4.35.

River: ($79.70) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $79.70

Results in white below:
UTG has Qd Tc (one pair, queens).
CO has Ah 2d (straight, five high).
Outcome: CO wins $79.70.

The Questions
-----------------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

MP1 ($41.14)
MP2 ($68.52)
MP3 ($50)
CO ($57.25)
Button ($47.19)
Hero ($49)
BB ($79.50)
UTG ($70.80)
UTG+1 ($53.85)
UTG+2 ($54.15)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , . MP3 posts a blind of $0.50. Hero posts a blind of $0.25.
3 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, 3 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $2.75, 1 fold, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $2.50.

Flop: ($7.50) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $5, MP2 calls $5.

Turn: ($17.50) (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $5, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $22.50

Results in white below:
No showdown. MP2 wins $22.50.

This is a really weak beat from a loose player who likes to steal pots. Everyone still fold here?

Overall
--------
I didn’t win a hand larger then 1.65 in 162 hands. The good news is that I finally got my WtSD up to a reasonable number but that was because my W$SD was 42. It was a short session because I got fed up with folding and tilted away a stack. As soon as I did that I realized it was time to get up.

Stats
-----------
Hands: 162
VP$IP: 20.37
W$SF: 23.08
WtSD: 17.95
W$SD: 42.86
WL: -62.08

The Good
-----------
Nothing to see here.

The Bad
----------
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

CO ($193.44)
Button ($23.60)
SB ($41.83)
BB ($82.33)
UTG ($48.50)
UTG+1 ($31.13)
UTG+2 ($45.69)
MP1 ($27.41)
Hero ($58.65)
MP3 ($39.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 3 folds, SB (poster) calls $2.75, 1 fold, UTG+1 folds.

Flop: ($7) , , (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $6, SB raises to $12, Hero calls $49.65 (All-In), SB calls $26.83 (All-In).

Turn: ($101.48) (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($101.48) (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $101.48

Results in white below:
SB has Jc Jh (three of a kind, jacks).
Hero has Ah Ad (one pair, aces).
Outcome: SB wins $84.66. Hero wins $16.82.

I usually fold this but I was on pseudo tilt.

some comments:

- too few hands to really say if your style is a winning one or not at this level

- it seems like you've changed your style. why not stick with the $25 style and see where that gets you -- tweak when you think it's necessary.

- your current week W$SD (77%) seems really high... and i am not sure this is good. it suggests to me that you are likely folding the best hand more than you should. this number could be an anomaly due to a small sample, but i think that it's worth a comment.

good luck.