First hand we should have 75BB, we have the odds to setmine

HOLY COW.
I just had a hand EXACTLY like in the video !!
With the A, I had 2nd pair, so I stopped betting and just checked.
On turn, If V has even bet $1, I would have folded since I showed weakness.
When he bluffs river, I knew he did not have K, so I called w/ 2nd pair Q


Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 8 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: 64.5 BB
MP+1: 205.5 BB
CO: 109.5 BB
BTN: 96 BB
SB: 105 BB
BB: 100 BB
Hero (UTG): 119.5 BB
UTG+1: 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has Q K

Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, MP+1 calls 3 BB, fold, BTN calls 3 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (10.5 BB, 3 players) Q 9 A
Hero checks, MP+1 bets 7.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 7.5 BB

Turn: (25.5 BB, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, MP+1 checks

River: (25.5 BB, 2 players) 4
Hero checks, MP+1 bets 13 BB, Hero calls 13 BB

MP+1 shows K J (High Card, Ace)
(Pre 26%, Flop 17%, Turn 9%)
Hero shows Q K (One Pair, Queens)
(Pre 74%, Flop 83%, Turn 91%)
Hero wins 49 BB

Unless he’s trolling, he’s a losing player on the lowest stakes at a soft site and incapable of grasping simple concepts presented to him.

Now the term “poker player” is obviously up for interpretation but since we wouldn’t call someone “soccer player” just because they kicked a soccer ball twice in elementary school, we shouldn’t call everyone “poker player” if they infrequently played in a home game in high school. If we limit the term to people who play poker at least occasionally, there’s no way he’s better than 99.9999% of players.

He didn't say better than 99% of the population. He said better than 99% of poker players. Do you really consider anyone who has ever played poker a poker player? In that case, I must be a guitarist because I picked up a guitar and strummed it once.

If he would have said better than 99% of the population, or maybe even 99% of people who have ever played poker, maybe I would have agreed with him. But that's not what he said.

What's really funny is that he's cheering about someone finally understanding math, yet he clearly doesn't understand basic concepts about population that are usually taught in an intro to stats course.

The KQ is actually played well.
There's little point in betting 2nd pair on the flop, because you'll fold out most hands you beat and only get called by better hands (e.g. Ax). Since your hand is medium strength (it loses to value-hands but beats bluffs), check-calling keeps the pot small, allows villain to bluff with a worse hand, and gets you closer to showdown.
Checking the turn makes sense for the same reason.
Checking the river is also good, because it more or less forces villain to bluff if he wants to try and win the hand. (He can't win by checking behind with king high). So you check to induce that bluff and then call the bluff and win that extra bet. If you'd bet the river yourself, villain doesn't put money in the pot when he's losing.

Poker more or less boils down to that: You want villain to put money in the pot when he's losing. If you're at the top of your range (e.g. TPGK+) you can bet your hand and get called by worse, but when you're in the middle of your range (e.g. second pair, TP no kicker) the best way to get villain to put money in the pot with worse is to check to induce him to bluff.

More specifically, when you have KQ on AQ934, you have a bluffcatcher. So you use it to catch bluffs.

My experience in NL2 is that 8 of 9 players are a total nit.

Tons of hands just get folded to BB
Lots of player check/check/checks their nuts.
People even slow play AA

Most of the time, a PF bet causes the entire table to fold. Very hard to bet for value. I have started to slow play all monsters, since betting induces folds.

I saw VPIP of 3 the other session. 2NL is clown world poker since everyone is tight as hell. . Last session, it folded to BB six times in a row. Does't get nittier than that.

Playing two different 2NL tables
VPIP 10, 17,44,17,10,32,12
VPIP 24,21,15,47,23,17,10,14

2 fish players out of 16+ players.
2NL is filled with nits who all fold to any open bets.
My last three AK's ended up getting me 3 cents each.

Soft? Umm, no.

The first sentence seems to indicate that the second sentence should read, "Soft? Yumm, yes!"

Ok, with all the advice given here, I have made some big changes to my game.
I am playing MUCH tighter. Folding everything in EP.
Margain stuff like Ax and 78 ........all folding

My VPIP/PFR is now 18/18 for the current session.

I only played this hand, and somehow got callers.
V was VPIP 45/0, and I started checking since I thought me might have QQ for a set.
If he was dealt QQ, he has 0 PFR, which is a great way to mask your hand.

I feel I got lucky here

Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: 29.5 BB
MP+1: 310 BB
Hero (MP+2): 96.5 BB
CO: 110.5 BB
BTN: 95.5 BB
SB: 75 BB
BB: 102 BB
UTG: 84 BB
UTG+1: 129 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K K

fold, UTG+1 calls 1 BB, fold, fold, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, BTN calls 4 BB, SB calls 3.5 BB, fold, UTG+1 calls 3 BB

Flop: (17 BB, 4 players) 5 5 Q
SB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero checks, BTN bets 17 BB, fold, fold, Hero calls 17 BB

Turn: (51 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, BTN bets 74.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 74.5 BB

River: (200 BB, 2 players) 5

Hero shows K K (Full House, Fives full of Kings)
(Pre 72%, Flop 76%, Turn 89%)
BTN shows Q A (Full House, Fives full of Queens)
(Pre 28%, Flop 24%, Turn 11%)
Hero wins 190 BB

Why are you checking the flop, awful.

On the flop, I felt that if I 3-bet, everyone would fold. (only called by better)
I was hoping new cards would improve the V 's hand. That's what happened and I got a lot more.
Better to slow play and get more money into pot?

Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP+2: 28 BB
CO: 293.5 BB
Hero (BTN): 191 BB
SB: 111 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 71 BB
UTG+1: 102 BB
MP: 102.5 BB
MP+1: 121 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K K

fold, fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, fold, CO calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 3 BB, CO calls 3 BB

Flop: (13.5 BB, 3 players) T J T
MP checks, CO bets 6.5 BB, Hero calls 6.5 BB, fold

Turn: (26.5 BB, 2 players) 7
CO bets 13 BB, Hero calls 13 BB

River: (52.5 BB, 2 players) 6
CO checks, Hero bets 26 BB, CO calls 26 BB

CO mucks 7 J (Two Pair, Jacks and Tens)
(Pre 17%, Flop 14%, Turn 9%)
Hero shows K K (Two Pair, Kings and Tens)
(Pre 83%, Flop 86%, Turn 91%)
Hero wins 99.5 BB

Everything depends on factors.
because I knew guy VPIP 45 to left of me would bet.
I stacked him. Not terrible.

Here is an example of how NL2 players check strong hands.
Thanks to you guys, I didn't take the bait !!

Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG+1: 28 BB
MP: 243 BB
Hero (MP+1): 234.5 BB
MP+2: 110.5 BB
CO: 100 BB
BTN: 69 BB
SB: 115 BB
BB: 94.5 BB
UTG: 121 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J A

fold, fold, MP raises to 2 BB, Hero calls 2 BB, fold, CO calls 2 BB, fold, fold, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (8.5 BB, 4 players) 9 Q 9
BB checks, MP checks, Hero bets 4 BB, CO calls 4 BB, BB calls 4 BB, MP calls 4 BB

Turn: (24.5 BB, 4 players) J
BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks, CO checks

River: (24.5 BB, 4 players) 5
BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks, CO checks

MP mucks T T (Two Pair, Tens and Nines)
(Pre 37%, Flop 10%, Turn 20%)
Hero mucks J A (Two Pair, Jacks and Nines)
(Pre 25%, Flop 4%, Turn 10%)
CO mucks A 4 (One Pair, Nines)
(Pre 16%, Flop 30%, Turn 15%)
BB shows 8 Q (Two Pair, Queens and Nines)
(Pre 22%, Flop 55%, Turn 55%)
BB wins 23.5 BB

How can you possibly not be making money at a game like that? Why not raise every stinking hand with everything north of 72o and fold to even a hint of resistance?

Elsewhere you said, IIRC, you had played too loose and had to tighten up to get to break even. Now you are saying you are playing too tight.

I think your problem is that the one poker player you that have completely fooled is yourself. You are either lying to us or you lack self awareness.

It's really hard to say to yourself, "I suck." But when you can do that, mean it, and believe it, you've got a much better shot at learning.

That's just one poker player's opinion. I could be wrong. Enjoy your poker.

This checking is really saving me some money !

Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 31 BB
SB: 129 BB
Hero (BB): 96.5 BB
UTG: 106 BB
UTG+1: 133 BB
MP: 154.5 BB
MP+1: 114.5 BB
MP+2: 98.5 BB
CO: 107.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 3 3

fold, UTG+1 raises to 3 BB, MP calls 3 BB, fold, MP+2 calls 3 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 2.5 BB, Hero calls 2 BB

Flop: (15 BB, 5 players) 9 8 T
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP checks, MP+2 checks

Turn: (15 BB, 5 players) T
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP bets 1 BB, fold, SB raises to 4 BB, Hero calls 4 BB, fold, fold

River: (24 BB, 2 players) 3
SB checks, Hero bets 18 BB, fold

Hero wins 23 BB

Did I over bet here?
Slow play next time?

Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 31 BB
BTN: 122 BB
Hero (SB): 112.5 BB
BB: 106 BB
UTG: 130 BB
UTG+1: 150.5 BB
MP: 114.5 BB
MP+1: 95.5 BB
MP+2: 107.5 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K A

fold, UTG+1 calls 1 BB, MP raises to 3.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 10.5 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 7 BB

Flop: (23 BB, 2 players) K 9 5
Hero checks, MP bets 7.5 BB, Hero raises to 26.5 BB, fold

Hero wins 36.5 BB

I agree with you. I was doing half of that, aggroBetting, and taking down tons of small pots. But, then I would get stacked. Win small pots, lose big pots. Why I started this thread. For now, I am over-correcting. Well, right now, I feel it's not worth picking up small pots. But yea, I will need to increase my VPIP (right now, it's 25/15), so I loosened up. And yea, at 2NL, I am check/folding to ANY strength. Let 'em have it. Starting to get that I need to protect my stack, and only to expose it when I have nuts. I am also folding a lot more, like 9J, etc.

V bet PF
Flop I have Ace pair, J kicker.
V may have AQ, AK, AA.

So, I put the brakes on.
"Only getting called by better hand"

I called his C-bet.
Is this a place to 3-bet?
"Only getting called by better hand" ?

Next streeet, once he checked, I bet and took pot!


Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: 29.5 BB
CO: 98.5 BB
Hero (BTN): 126.5 BB
SB: 104.5 BB
BB: 143.5 BB
UTG: 128.5 BB
UTG+1: 98.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J A

fold, fold, fold, CO raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, fold, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (9.5 BB, 3 players) 4 A 9
BB checks, CO bets 7 BB, Hero calls 7 BB, BB calls 7 BB

Turn: (30.5 BB, 3 players) 5
BB checks, CO checks, Hero bets 15 BB, fold, fold

Hero wins 29 BB

VPIP for last session ended up at 22/13
Way tighter than usual.

164 BB/hr was a good session
Normally I get stacked by the end

Played $1/$2 live a few years ago, and was a nit. Break even to slight loser.

Came back this month, .01/.02 and played aggro and loved it. Took down many small pots and lost the big pots. Now, I am playing tighter. VPIP went from 40 to 25, so far. VPIP for last session ended up at 22/13
Way tighter than usual.

Got HUD, so I can finally LEARN from mistakes. Is anyone willing to see some of my hands and see if I am making progress?

get your preflop ranges down to the pretty optimal reggy ones, you can find examples on snowie preflop advisor for example, that way you can take good ranges to postflop and find yourself on the right spots to play aggresive.

if you have loose ranges and then play them aggresive postflop you're just not going to have enough good hands to justify all the bluffing you're doing, and at some point people are going to catch up, specially other regulars, and they're going to call you down super light

it's also easier to play tight ranges, just don't be a nit postflop

On the flop, I felt that if I 3-bet, everyone would fold. (only called by better)
I was hoping new cards would improve the V 's hand. That's what happened and I got a lot more.
Better to slow play and get more money into pot?

Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP+2: 28 BB
CO: 293.5 BB
Hero (BTN): 191 BB
SB: 111 BB
BB: 100 BB
UTG: 71 BB
UTG+1: 102 BB
MP: 102.5 BB
MP+1: 121 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K K

fold, fold, MP calls 1 BB, fold, fold, CO calls 1 BB, Hero raises to 4 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 3 BB, CO calls 3 BB

Flop: (13.5 BB, 3 players) T J T
MP checks, CO bets 6.5 BB, Hero calls 6.5 BB, fold

Turn: (26.5 BB, 2 players) 7
CO bets 13 BB, Hero calls 13 BB

River: (52.5 BB, 2 players) 6
CO checks, Hero bets 26 BB, CO calls 26 BB

CO mucks 7 J (Two Pair, Jacks and Tens)
(Pre 17%, Flop 14%, Turn 9%)
Hero shows K K (Two Pair, Kings and Tens)
(Pre 83%, Flop 86%, Turn 91%)
Hero wins 99.5 BB

Did I over bet here?
Slow play next time?

Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 31 BB
BTN: 122 BB
Hero (SB): 112.5 BB
BB: 106 BB
UTG: 130 BB
UTG+1: 150.5 BB
MP: 114.5 BB
MP+1: 95.5 BB
MP+2: 107.5 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K A

fold, UTG+1 calls 1 BB, MP raises to 3.5 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 10.5 BB, fold, fold, MP calls 7 BB

Flop: (23 BB, 2 players) K 9 5
Hero checks, MP bets 7.5 BB, Hero raises to 26.5 BB, fold

Hero wins 36.5 BB

V bet PF
Flop I have Ace pair, J kicker.
V may have AQ, AK, AA.

So, I put the brakes on.
"Only getting called by better hand"

I called his C-bet.
Is this a place to 3-bet?
"Only getting called by better hand" ?

Next streeet, once he checked, I bet and took pot!


Yatahay Network - $0.02 NL - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: 29.5 BB
CO: 98.5 BB
Hero (BTN): 126.5 BB
SB: 104.5 BB
BB: 143.5 BB
UTG: 128.5 BB
UTG+1: 98.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J A

fold, fold, fold, CO raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, fold, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (9.5 BB, 3 players) 4 A 9
BB checks, CO bets 7 BB, Hero calls 7 BB, BB calls 7 BB

Turn: (30.5 BB, 3 players) 5
BB checks, CO checks, Hero bets 15 BB, fold, fold

Hero wins 29 BB

3 pair no good.

Bet bigger pre at 2nl. At least 5bb here with 2 callers. I would have played flop and turn the same. It may be ok to raise either. Donk on paired rainbow board usually means draw wanting cheap turn or pairing the off card. BUT, this isn't every donk, so i'd take the cautious route. But this also means i have to call down on most runouts.

Hand 2 just bet .25 to .33 pot otf. Don't raise on a dry board bc you only get called by good Ks and sets.

Hand 3 stop betting .5 pot unless you have a reason for it. It's too big to get called by junk and too small to price out draws. Turn bet around .25pot or a little bigger. Don't think about getting good hands to fold when you have a good hand. Think about getting bad hands to call.

Edit: 1 hand per post and don't include results.

What do you mean by "3 pair no good"?