Hi all,

This is my first post after reading some helpful advice for the last 2 days. I think this forum is a mecca for both new and experienced poker players. I decided to finally register and reach out to the wealth of experience and knowledge that many great players here could offer.

A little background - I started playing 1/3 NL holdem in mid 2014 in Wrestpoint Casino, Tasmania. The brief summary of 2014 can be described as a roller-coaster experience. I ended 2014 with a few hundred dollars in profit.

I have briefly read some books, articles and of course some advice here in 2+2. I could be a level 2.5 or 3 thinker at the moment. I am a TAG player who occasionally bluffs. I have a decent idea about pot odds, implied odds, the importance of position, bet sizing and the like.

However, I still find that I am not crushing the tables on a regular basis like I know I have the capability to.

Just yesterday, I had a bad run and lost 2 buyins on the 1/3 table.

First hand where I busted out - I was UTG with AA and raised to $20, Villain and SB called. Flop was 2Q2 rainbow. I continuation bet $40 right into the pot and was reraised to $85. I called and The SB fold. Turn was 2Q25. I checked and V shoved. I thought long about it and figured that I am only losing to QQ at this stage. V could be shoving with AQ, KK or even AA. I called and V turned over QQ. I was sick.

Second hand, I was BB and play was checked to me. I looked at K5 and checked. There were 7 limpers including me in the pot. Flop came Kc5c9d. I checked and UTG bet $20 into the pot and was called by another 2 players wherein I then reraised to $75. This was enough to put initial better (V1) all-in. V2 then thought about it and called. The rest folded. Turn came Kc5C9d9h. At that point I knew my K5 was no good and V1 probably had a 9, while V2 could be chasing the nut flush or had a bigger K. Turn was checked and River was Kc5c9d9hAh. Me and V2 both checked. V1 had K9, while V2 had Ac7c. Was my play correct?

After those 2 hands, I proceeded to get premiums like AK and AQ (7 of those hands in total in less than an hour). However, they never connected and my continuation bets were called and I just had to give up. Sometimes I fired out at the river but got called with 2nd pair or worst while I had nothing. I then lost my cool and called a shove for the rest of my $50 on a 234 rainbow board wherein I had AK. Villain turned over KK.

What is wrong with my play? and how can I truly beat the tables consistently. I know it in my gut that I could do it because on some nights where I was mentally on top form, I extracted full value with my nuts or near nuts, I made sick folds and some great reads. I tried playing on the 2/5 table once with the regular grinders, "sharks" and tourists, and cashed out $2200 in a 6 hour session. It wasn't an easy night because I was pretty much folding thrash and beat hands until I got a good run of cards in the last 2.5hours.

Newbie needs advice and constructive advice. Any strategy or direction that I should adopt in such games? Constructive advice and help much appreciated.

Welcome. Too many general questions, it's hard to get much useful advice that way. Post hand histories and participate in discussions about hands. Play and study as much as possible. Maybe make a deposit to an online site and play some micro stakes like .05/.10 to log lots of hands and build your experience much faster than just playing live. You've been playing for a very short time, it takes time to apply the things you learn in in-game situations.

Everyone has losing sessions. Don't focus on results. Focus on making the best possible decisions every hand.

Your main problem in your approach is not understanding sample sizes. Some nights will suck. You'll run bad, get coolers and 2 buyins might be the least of your worries.

The key is to put in volume, analyze your play and continue to learn and grow as a player so you can beat the games you are in more comfortably and/or move up.

How do you define "crushing on a regular basis?"

Welcome to the forum, OP. I'm locking this up because it's to general to really answer helpfully,but not because it's" bad."

Both hands looked OK. Variance happens, and when it's negative, it's easy to ascribe it to mistakes. The truth is that even an objectively perfect play, such as getting AI pre with AA will lose you a stack 20% of the time.

As others said, post specific questions and/or hands and you'll get.much better help. In the mean time, please read the stickies and the best of threads.