You goal should not be to move up. It should be to learn how to play poker.

Getting better is my goal. For me I just see different stakes sort of like levels of a video game. So I guess learning to play poker is the means to an end or vice versa. It's like your goal being to dunk a basketball versus being able to jump higher. Or running a 5 minute mile versus having better endurance.

Bought some tournament points and won a small tournament for $105. Usually do really well in the small ones, but haven't had much luck in anything bigger. Bankrolls back to like $170, so I can continue to comfortably play 10nl. My first thought after winning was to take a shot at 25nl, but I managed to stop myself. Still down like $55 at 10nl, but I think I'm playing well.

Can't find too many interesting spots, since I'm really trying to avoid 'interesting' play. I would fold here, except it was a fish.

I think this hand and the TT hand were the two hands I sort of botched today. Villain had tight stats, so I doubt he's ever making that big raise with KQ.

You posted the same hand twice lol. However, I'm not sure my line is going to be any different than yours with the 1010. Are you using a HUD? If not, you should be. Knowing these stats are crucial. For example, I was sitting next to a rock today...over 100 hands with him 12vpip 5 pfr...I've never seen him 3bet.

I have JJ and raise it up. He re-raises me and I fold. He shows QQ, which was the bottom of his range.

Stats are so important to know.

On the first hand, it was strange because UTG raised, but SB led out. I'm not sure what he was doing there. If he has a hand, you would assume he's checking so UTG can raise again and at the very least, he check-raises. Then, when UTG folds (most likely AK or AQ type hands), it gets really weird. You have to think you're up against a straight draw, set, or some sort of pair there. Though, I still don't think I'm folding.

I am using a HUD, but only had 3 hands on villain. So he could have been a total fish. I mean the hands he's representing are 4s and 5s. I doubt he plays JJ like this. It wouldn't make that much sense for him to lead out with 9s. And pocket 4s are unlikely. I think I usually fold just because I don't think that many people are triple barreling with air. I was surprised, though, that snowie really didn't like this hand, since I feel like folding TT here would be somewhat exploitable.

It literally says in your OP that your goal is to move up. And as you say, the two terms can probably be used interchangeably. But I feel as though you would benefit from some more quantifiable goals.

Anyway, let's take a look at some of these hands.

TT: prob wouldn't be calling river unless villain is a confirmed spaz. looks like you developed that read.

AKcc: Pump it up pre, 4b to like $2.50

AKhh: Bet like 80% pot on this flop. Had you bet that big and got raised on the flop I think it's a fold.

I kind of agree, as I've probably put to too much stock in what stake I'm playing. I think one of my biggest problems is bad bankroll management, as I can never stay at one stake for very long. Usually, I'll play 25nl at $300, 50nl at $700, and 100nl at $1200. It's probably a miracle that I haven't busted yet. So while my long term goal is still to move up, my shortish term goal is to play 100k hands at 10nl. My goal for each session is to resist the urge to spew. Currently, I'm really just trying to play a standard solid style, and trying to play pretty closely to what Snowie says is optimal. I think at 20,000 hands or so I'm going to start trying to exploit fish more, and start using the HUD to make more advanced reads. Right now I only have it configured for a couple of stats. In terms of getting better, I'm mainly just doing hand review. The semesters coming to a close, so I don't have time for too much more. This summer I think I'm going to really try and put in a lot of work though.

I agree with your hand analysis. I think sometimes I'm hesitant to 4bet AK, since I often feel lost unless I hit a pair.

Wish I just flatted. I think my thought process was something like 'If I'm beat I might as well just find out now instead of on the river.'

Never folding that set.

Yeah, can't really fold this although it's not much fun calling.

Misclickd call any was meaning to fold turn too... at least he got paid off his royal flush... pretty frustrating

Just deleted that hand from my history, going to pretend it never happened. Glad it's only 10nl. I wonder whats the most someones every lost by a misclicking.

Haven't been playing a ton, but have been playing okayish. Haven't made any horrible mistakes, but have struggled in some big pots. Particularly playing OOP in 3bet pots with good or near nut hands. I think I need to be able to check call the turn more. Also going to start playing against the Snowie bot since I think as a newish player sometimes it's hard to make big decisions under pressure.

Probably should have folded. Doubt one pair is ever good here.

Cbet flop

So, yeah...the top two hands you definitely need to C-bet. Checking after being the aggressor is weird. Take this hand for example. If you C-bet here, he might fold. He may call. If you bet the turn, he's certainly folding if he's competent and you bet the right amount (not giving him the odds to chase the straight). By checking both streets, you allowed him to buy a free card by him betting the flop. You are being too passive. If he calls you down on both streets and the river is a scare card, then you can check. If it's not scary, then you can barrel again and fold to a re-raise.