Normally I post big hands and tough spots but I realized that mistakes in smaller spots were affecting my game and I was playing far worse in these spots.

1. Live 1/3. Hero is in the $6 Straddle with Ac6c. 4 people limp to the straddle. Hero checks.

Flop 7d 6s 4c.
Checks to the button who's an unknown with a $100 stack who bets 15. Hero is next to act. What to do? Everyone else in the hand is loose passive and has a stack that covers hero's stack. Hero has a stack of $300.

2. Live 1/3 with a $6 straddle. Hero opens in MP to $23 with KhJh and a stack of $450 (SB and Straddle both cover). SB (tight aggressive) and Straddle (loose passive) call.

Flop 9d 3s 2c. Checks to hero. Hero?

Hand 1: Why are you straddling in UTG? Unless you can explain how this will make you money at the specific table, do not do this... especially if you're just going to check with AXs.

As played, I'd just fold, or rarely shove if I know BTN will stack off 16bb light and those who checked will fold out their draws.

Hand 2: Really V dependent, but overall, I lean to a CBet/fold. TAG will follow with some PP's. Might double barrel if I think that'll get him to fold 88 and under. Board is really dry, so even the loose passive might fold as there aren't many draws out there.

H1: Peel one off. Both an A and a 6 are very likely to be good, there's the backdoor draw, there's some chance you're good now, you're getting good odds. Doubt it gets checkraised too often.

H2: Definitely cbetting on this nothing board. Would check it back on 9d 8s 2c.

Hand 1: I let this go. Bad position and bad relative position; weak draws; either paired 6's or an A are scare cards, tending to limit future action; It's not likely to get x/r, but when it does we have to give up. Bettor has a short stack, limiting our IO. I very much doubt bettor is leading into five people with less than MPTK.

Hand 2: I cbet this $50. Flop is dry and will miss much of a PF caller's range; even if it hits someone, it's not likely to hit very hard. We might win the pot here, but I wouldn't be surprised to get a caller. If we do, I'm barreling any overcard on the turn and definitely evaluating a third barrel OTR.

H1:

You're straddling? There's a leak.

I'd probably lean to check/folding the flop. Yeah, a LP person bet who might have anything (including a monster) but we still have a bunch of people to react after us (call/folding is lighting money on fire). Yeah, we fold the best hand some of the time here, but that's a very small mistake in this relatively small pot; putting in money behind (or putting in any money to fold the turn UI, especially when best) is likely a far bigger mistake.

GcluelessNLnoobG

H2:

KJh is a very speculative hand. At a very payoffy table, I might lean towards open limping it and just trying to get into a pot for cheap. At a loose aggro table with not as many payoff stations postlop, I'd just open fold it in MP. We ended up 3ways in position, so not a bad result, but I'm guessing also one that could be considered lucky.

I'd always bet this flop 3ways with this hand because we can fold out a bunch of better hands that whiffed this flop (Ax, better Kx). No need to go big, if the pot was $75 I'd probably only go $30 and see if that gets it done.

GcluelessNLnoobG

I agree with others that if you never straddle that is a guaranteed way to save money in the long run.

H1 I fold given we are against 4 opponents. Some reverse implied odds are at play if you hit your ace and someone had A7 for example. Plus at a loose table bound to get 1 or 2 others to also call on the flop.

H2 I think a cbet is in order on this dry flop + 2 overs, especially since one of the players is tight and you have position moving forward.

Grunching

Hand 1 - maybe raise pre depending on table but calling is fine too. As played raise or fold I'm inclined to fold.

Hand 2 - cbetting and continuing to bet on favorable runouts