Game is a $1/$2 game in a local "home" game. There are about 2-3 donks and 4-5 very very aggressive and tricky players. I don't think I've ever really played in a game like this before, and really felt like I got outplayed.

I'd like to get better. Here are a few hands I played, I'm hoping some people here can give me some lines to help me have an idea what to do in spots like this. I really have no idea what my image was at the table. I tried to play aggressive and take control of hands but pretty much was run over and called in all the wrong spots. I apologize for the long post, but any advice would be great, even if its just general ideas for how to deal with games like this.

Hand #1:

I've been in the game for 15 minutes. I've seen villain bluff once and get called. I have $250, villain has me covered. 3 callers in early pos. I have KJs in cutoff. I raise to 12. Villain is in BB and calls along with 2 others. Flop comes J84, two clubs (not my suit). Checked to me. I bet $25, only villain calls. Turn comes 2 of clubs. Villain checks and I check. My purpose of checking is to control the pot size and perhaps induce a bluff from villain. River is another 2. Villain leads out for $55. I call. He had the flush. Am I being too results oriented for feeling bad about this call?

Hand #2:

Villain has been in the game for about an hour. I've seen him show a bluff, get raised on a bluff and fold, and bet hands aggressively for value. He's not really playing a ton of hands, but playing verry aggressive when he chooses to play. I have ~$300 and villain has me covered. Villain raises to $12 in early position. Folded to me. I have KK on sb and flat (is flatting ok here sometimes, or should I always 3-bet?). Heads up to flop. Flop comes J84 all spades. I don't have Ks. I check, villain bets $25. I raise to $75. Villain re-raises to $180. I fold. Any ideas on how to play this hand better?

Hand #3:

Same villain as hand #2. 4-5 limpers, including villain. I have ATs on button. I raise to $15. Everyone calls and we have like 5 seeing a flop. I have $250 and villain has me covered. Flop comes A92 rainbow. Checked to villain who bets $60. Folded to me. I fold. I had no idea what to do here and just folded and felt really weak. If I flat, what is the plan? I'm assuming if i raise I'm committed....

Hand #4:

Villain is similar to the other 2 above. Aggressive. A couple of limpers, I have A7s in late pos and raise to $12. Villain is in BB and calls along with one other. Flop comes 782 rainbow. Villain bets $15. I call. Turn comes K. Villain bets $20, I call. River is another 2. Villain bets $60. What do I do? I had a hard time putting villain on a hand. An 8 doesn't likely bet the river that hard for value and the bet sizing is weird for a set or something like that. Any help on this hand would be appreciated.

hand 1, call almost all of the time.

hand 2, 3b 3b 3b...you're deepish and going to be OOP, so 3b. As played, a c/r on this board from you isn't that intimidating, unless you flopped a frush, you likely aren't that strong. Most strong hands would lead this flop I would think...I guess I'm not c/ring to fold, and I'm not sure if the 3b would have me reassess.

hand 3. depends on outcome of hand 2 a bit.

hand 4. my first thought is that if you don't know what to do in this situation, you shouldn't be raising A7s. I would probably call, but I would really consider a turn bluffraise. perfect card for you to stab at, if you were behind to begin with. villain could have a boat, or T9o, so meh.

raise more pf. the decisions should get easier as opponents ranges get more polarized

Hand 1: This is an easy call. I'd expect to be good here a lot. When you check the turn for pot control a lot of villians will interpret this as weakness and either bluff the river or make what they think is a value bet with worse. If you lost here it's just a cooler


Hand 2: Playing OOP against an agressive and tricky villian is difficult, especially deep. Therefore I would have made a large preflop raise here to 50 or so, with the intention of either taking down the pot or simplifying the post flop play. As played, if villian is really that aggro, I'd shove here.


Hand 3: Again, against an aggro villian sometimes you just have to take a stand. Raising pf then folding to a single bet when you flop TP is weak. If you're not comfortable in situations like this then you shoudl have probably just limped pf.

Hand 4: If you're not comfortable playing ATs in a raised pot then you shouldn't be raising A7s either. As played, I would call here. Again, you have to take a stand at some point.