Hoping to get some honest feedback as to if I took appropriate lines in my live cash game today. This 1/2 game is typically quite aggressive, with consistent straddles of $5 pretty much every other hand. Many people over defend weak holdings, and seem to LOVE to gamble with flush/straight draws once the flop has come...

I am a new live player, with mostly reading under my belt. I am currently up $727 over 21hrs playing almost exclusively 1/1 with limited 1/2 experience. I know I'm running hot, but have found several comfortable spots in these weak charity games. On to the hands...

After 3 rotations, I find 55 in middle position. This hand had no straddle, and folded around to me. I bought in for 60BB, and am currently @80BB. I raised to $10, and its called by the last 3 position players; both blinds fold. I announce a blind check slightly before J52 hits the board. It checks to the button who fires $30 pretty casually. (I haven't seen him play much, don't have much of a read whatsoever) I decide to push my $150, he has me covered. He thinks for awhile, then calls and flips over 36.

Second hand happened almost immediately after my rebuy, which was for $100. I have QQ in late position, UTG straddles $5. One call after the straddle and it gets to me. I see the Big Blind is quite excited about his hand, and has already counted out $20. I decide to call, anticipating the button will overcall and then blind will throw that raise out. The plan is to get the money in if this happens, which it does. I put in my $100 and he snap calls and asks if I have a pair...obviously I assume AK!


I put in the results because people tend to berate me when I don't, but please take these lines into consideration before you look at the answer and tell me what you think

Buy in full.

First hand - DO NOT CHECK BLIND. Especially as the PFR. As played it's fine, sucks you lost.

Second hand - buy in full. Limp Reraise is fine if you're TOTALLY sure someone is going to raise.

You got your money in as a massive favorite and lost, welcome to poker.

I think buying in short stack as a new live player is a good idea. It allows for less mistakes...honestly think you played both hands perfect given stack sizes. If you were deeper then I would advocate a different line on hands. Got your money in good...all you can ask for. Well played though...

Yeah, the dark check is pretty bad especially because this is the kind of board you want to lead out.

There's really no reason to slowplay QQ pre-flop - especially with a straddle - especially with a small stack. Lots of people pretend they're going to raise or bet as a ploy to keep others from betting or raising. More often than not, people acting like they're going to bet or call is a sign of weakness. It's typically only a sign of strength for a total donkey.

Grunch.

Hand 1:

You are pretty short stacked here... I would be trying to limp in if the table allows, if not, it's close to a fold. You are barely getting the implied odds to hit your set. This is one of the disadvantages of playing short stacked. Your stack limits the hands that you can profitably play.

Why in the world are you checking dark...? Seriously... why are you checking dark? Never check dark. Given the fact that you checked dark, I guess you played the hand fine after... not really much room for a smaller raise. But for future reference, don't check dark, lead the flop.

Hand 2:

If you've got a read that someone will raise behind you, then you played the hand fine. If however, you didn't have a reliable read that someone behind would raise, then you need to be doing the raising yourself.

Also... Don't post the results in the OP. I'm not sure who was flaming you for not doing so, but doing so will skew your responses.

You think that checking the flop (assuming we didn't check dark) in the first hand is optimal?