A few weeks back I qualified for a day 2 after playing Day 1 online, it was at DTD in the UK. I decided to make a day of it but was not rolled for the cash games and it dictated my choices but would still like some advice on a hand I played.

Ok, this is the scene I arrive a few hour early sit down have a drink and just get my bearings feeling quite nervous, I eventually talk to the floor manager and ask about any cash games at NLHE 1/1 but will play 1/2) if that all that runs. after 30 mins we get a game going at 1/2 and I only have 200 in my wallet and 400 in my bank which I am willing to lose, When I sit down there are two gentlemen with over 500 and I suspect they are waiting for a 2/5 game to start.

First hand 6 handed I pick up AQos UTG and raise to 6 and it folds to the button who is sitting on at least 500 and he 3bets to 25 fast, it folds back to me and I feel like maybe he is just playing position but TBH I just feel intimidated so I call, flop JQKsss and I check, He bets 50ish but his behavior throws me off, suddenly he squares up leans forward and just stares at me. Now if a new player did this I would see it as weak but this guy is not new and I start thinking maybe this confrontational behavior makes people spazz out which is what he wants but I am leveling myself and with 2nd pair I fold. What do you make of a stare down against a live fish like me?

Fold to the 3! pre in most games, though I hear UK plays more aggro, so not sure. Might be a 3! sometimes. It is not a call OOP.

AP, do we have a spade, and if so, which one?

No spade im afraid. but you are right about UK games being agro it felt like 100nl online 3bets most hands and limpers being isolated,

a few orbits later I pick up AA utg R ro 6 and everbody calls so 6 handed flop come QT2r I decide to bet around 1/2 pot 4 players call then the BB obvios reg raise to 100 and im in a horrible spot, cant see a one pair hand raising so I fold but its obvious im under rolled and its effecting my play/

I think you are correct. under rolled. If the last reg saw the first hand, he could think you will fold. One hand he could have is AQ. He could also have KJ. A set? Did you say anything after the first hand?

edit::I would bet a little more on the flop. 20-24

1/2 live plays much worse than nl2 online

you were under rolled, the guy clearly saw that and was forcing you to decide if you wanted to risk going home after a single orbit - the stare down also seems to corroborate this - he was replaying the dirty harry are you feeling lucky punk monologue in his mind but with a cockney accent

that was a snap 4bet with the AQ but on the flop without a spade and as played it's a fold (or a jam)

You should also increase your standard raise from 3x if you want any chance at isolating like with the AA hand, he may have likely had T2 there

Don't bother playing live unless you can bring multiple max buyins, otherwise this is exactly what happens, you'll be forced to commit so much stack on unsure things and be playing scared

next time bring more money and honestly, have 2 drinks before you start, it'll help you relax as you were probably a little nervous playing live

Thanks for the comments, the reg in the first hand is a uk pro red hair I have seen him on TV but cannot remember his name.

I spoke to a few guy in the MTT (i got 9th 1200)and my opinion was that confidence is huge in poker, see i didn't feel like I belonged in the cash game which means I should just leave.

I love the 1/1 games because it never feels like you get run over this game felt too big for me.

lol at pros at 1/2, if that's true then he's just messing with you while waiting for the real money game to start, he probably had 37o or something

his buyin for that level was a 3bet size for where he was waiting to play, he's going to stack off super light just for the lols

They had over 500 but there was nobody to start a 2/5 game and the 1/2 game is 1000 cap.

you spot on just waiting for a bigger game

You should spend some time reading the live hand history section. Even watch some live at the bike. People get bored much easier live so it's not abnormal for an entire table to vpip over 50 even if it's for significant amounts.

AQo in a 6 handed 1/2 game where you're OOP is 4bet hand all the way unless you know him to be a nit.

Understanding the math of the game gave me confidence in the game early on, still does, however it goes much deeper than math ie player tendencies and how that affects the math etc.,
Otth: why would he stare you down? If he had the goods, why would he scare you away?
All imho, I am still a noob and learning