The evolution of a NL player

[piersmajestyk]

I think my NL game is coming around very quickly. I am starting to get a very good feel for the plays and the hands that are out there. Here is a hand I lost today and I can assure you that last week at this time I would not have folded here on the flop. The guy that check raises me here is a very solid player. Perhaps I had the best hand but I figured there was better opportunities up the road. Do you agree with the fold here?

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

MP2 ($194)
MP3 ($231.25)
CO ($95)
Button ($84.7)
SB ($380.08)
BB ($200)
UTG ($73)
UTG+1 ($235.85)
Hero ($206.5)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , . SB posts a blind of $1.
2 folds, Hero raises to $7, 3 folds, Button calls $7, SB (poster) calls $6, BB calls $5.

Flop: ($28) , , (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $20, Button folds, SB folds, BB raises to $50, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $98

Results in white below:
No showdown. BB wins $98.

[forssell]

This is so read dependent, against some guys I make an easy fold. Against a very solid opponent I am guessing your checking behind on turn if he smoothcalls flop? He knows this and wants your stack so he is popping you back immediately. If this guy is very good he will make a play at you sometimes, most likely from position and with somekind of a draw though. I like the respect given here.

[piersmajestyk]

I have logged nearly 700 hands with this guy, most of them today and he had no problem at all folding to my flop bet on numerous other occasions when I raised and he had called preflop. With the board as it was showing no draws I just thought my best showing here would be a draw with him having AK as well and plenty of worse outcomes. Just didn't feel right so I let it go.

[kennyg]

nice work! getting away from most marignal situations is key to being a great NL player...at least IMO.

[iceman5]

Why only raise $7? This is $1/$2 right?

The problem with that raise is that you'll get 3 callers. Id rather limp and keep the pot small, or raise to $10.

The BB couldve easily had KQ there. Since its only $5 more for him to call and the pot was already $23 when it got to him, alt of guys will call with KQ.

I still think you have to fold most times because its going to be an expensive hand. I just hate folding there when I know a bigger raise wouldve given me a better idea of what he had.

[piersmajestyk]

I have been trying to keep all my raises consistant so I have been raising 7 or 8 on all my hands. I don't want to raise 10 say on AK and 7 on 56s. I know it probably doesn't make a hill of beans against most players as they are not noticing but against sharper players I would think they catch on and get a better read on you, particularly if you happen to play against them every day. I guess I could just mix it up all the time and that is probably the best method but while trying to get all the nuances under control I have chosen to just make a consistant raise when first in.

[kennyg]

Why not just make a consitent raise in the $8-$10 range??

That's what I do...with garbage or with a good hand...I try to keep it the same so no one can identify my hands.

I will make an absurbly large raise if there are a million limpers. Tha't about the only time i deviate.