I'm really struggling with getting a coherent thought process to go through when I'm in a hand. Pre-flop, I feel really good. I'm playing tight early, loosening up later, etc. I feel I am playing the right hands preflop, and anyone who has reviewed my hands agrees with that.

My problem is post-flop. I have no idea what to do to analyze a hand while I'm playing it. I use HEM as my HUD. Here's an example: I get AKo in late position. There's one limper ahead of me. I raise to 4xbb and he calls -everyone else folds, so it's HU, with me in position on him. The flop is 852r and he checks. I do what??? Say the flop is Kxx, and he checks, how does that change what I do? etc.

What thought process do I go through to determine how much, or even if, I should bet in a given situation. Are there certain stats that I look at on the villain to see if a check or a bet is the right play? How do I determine if I should bet 50% or 75% of the pot? etc.

I'm not asking how to play AK - I'm asking what things I should think of while playing a hand to help play it properly. So I don't look back at the hand later and say "OMG, what was I thinking there?!?"

Are there videos, or books that will help me with this? Or stickies somewhere on here that will help? Anyone have any suggestions?

Types of Questions to ask yourself:

Based on opponents tendencies (if known)

• What range/type of hands is he limp-calling with?
• Does the above range contain any premium hands?
• Would he fold any hands at all there after limping?
  
• Does he normally open raise? If so why is he limping?
• Is this player fit/fold, will a bet on any flop be likely to take it down?
• Does he check-raise these flops a lot?
• If checked through what do I do if I brick the turn also?
• What if I hit on the turn but he leads into me?
• If I Cbet and get called am I prepared to fire another barrel on turn? If so on what cards? and on what cards do I definitely not fire another barrel

etc
etc

Each action needs a purpose

Betting/raising
for value, as a (semi)bluff or for equity protection/fold out villains equity share.

Checking
to c/r c/f or c/c

And why you take each action in regard to villains range.

Also once the flop is dealt you should prob have an idea of what size pot you want to play vs villain.

You should be able to look back at hands and say omg what was i thinking here this is ******ed and accomplishes nothing or whatever because that means you are learning and improving and picking up on spots. This doesn't stop as you move up it just gets a bit deeper and thinner.

If you watch videos where you have a coach and student, the good coaches will take the student though the thought process on every street. Generally, the first question is going to be what is Villain's range? Based on the answer to that question, think about what mistake you are trying to get Villain to make, what actions you could take to make him make that mistake, and how likely it is to succeed. There are obviously many more considerations, but that is a good place to start.

Thanks guys, are there any videos that you would recommend? I have a DC subscription, and got a free CR subscription for a week through my FTP points.

1) What is villain's range?
2) If I bet, is it for value or as a bluff?

That will get you through the microstakes.

check out anything by verneer on CR. He's pretty much a microstakes, smallstakes guru. He also has a Rush poker challenge thread on this site going at the moment, and a similar ring game thread from last year that is superb

I just downloaded all of Verneer's videos last night (taking advantage of my free week ) but haven't had time to watch them yet. I've been reading his Rush poker challenge as well, thanks.

@zaiga000: I am (hopefully) going to move up from the microstakes some day, so I'm trying to develop a good play style now that will carry me through higher levels as well. Of course, I'm struggling with what you said anyway, so that's a good place to start