UTG is about 30/25/3. Not positionally aware either.

$0.25/$0.5 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($37.75)
Hero ($62.65)
BTN ($51.25)
SB ($104.30)
BB ($62.00)

Pre-flop: ($0.75, 5 players) Hero is CO [Jd]
UTG raises to $1.75, Hero raises to $6, 3 folds, UTG calls $4.25

Flop: [Qd][9s] ($12.75, 2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $11, UTG calls $11

Turn: ($34.75, 2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

River: ($34.75, 2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $22 ...


Hand 2
$0.25/$0.5 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($10.20)
UTG+1 ($75.75)
CO ($101.15)
BTN ($27.25)
SB ($18.65)
Hero ($62.20)
[UTG posted $0.25]
[UTG posted $0.5]

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 6 players) Hero is BB [Ad]
UTG checks, UTG+1 calls $0.5, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.5, 1 fold, Hero raises to $4, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $3.5,, BTN folds

Flop: [Ah][3s] ($9.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $5, UTG+1 calls $5

Turn: ($19.5, 2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $8, Hero calls $8

River: ($35.5, 2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $20, Hero goes all-in $45.2 ...

I have to say I don't like the hand 1 re-raise with AJ... I would just call because you have position anyway..... I know it is short handed, but man it is stilll AJo... I really hate AJ!

I also think you either have to bet again on the turn; hoping to push him off draw or low PP, but they way you played it I think I would just check on the river and give it up...


HAND 2: The way the action goes I think I am behind on the river, but I don't really know why... I guess I am worried about QT or a set of 3's... his turn bet looks like it was a pot building/value type bet rather than a steal...

I don't like the AJ re-raise, as others have noted. It's going to get you in trouble.

With AK, I don't like making the raise that big just yet. $4? That's at least really unusual on Stars, not that the hand can't handle it, but you don't want your only caller to be a hand like JJ. You want all the hands you dominate in there.

I'm also not excited about the turn check-call nor, without a read, of the river CRAI.

Ok, so you beat AJ and I guess somewhat possible is even A8 or KJ. Given the passive flop bet, I don't exclude QT from his range. Then there are all the sets.

If you bet out turn, then bet river, I guess the result is the same. But when he pushes the river after that sequence, you're behind more often than not imo--probably ahead or split just often enough to make calling a push bearable.

I've had several hands where getting into this similar trappy type stuff trying to not make them fold has cost me many $$ (here it probably doesn't). As example, if I may make a relevant hijack: I call an LP raise from SB with QTs. Flop comes QQT. I check, and LP checks. Turn makes a flush draw. I bet. LP calls. River makes the flush. I bet, LP calls. LP had KQ here, and if I had bet aggressively I would've won a stack rather than 1/4 of a stack. Sure, LP is going to fold a lot to my bet, but after the flush hits the river, I can't get much out of him.

I also just had another hand where not betting out cost me money by not allowing me to define villain's hand. I think it's a bad habit to get into, and it's one I'm trying to correct in myself.

I think he will call in hand one with any pair and any Ace, so no use in betting. I think the preflop re-raise is pretty standard, you're ahead of his range and you have position.

Second hand.. I don't get your play. Slowplaying two streets for the lose?