hey guys,
I'm a long time ready - but this is my first post as i never before tried to analyse my hands with pt/hem. Now I'm in the 30 day test trail period and am facing some heavy losses in 2nl. over my first tracked 3,5k hands im down 18$ or 9 buyins. today my biggest loosing hands were the following. I would really appreciate some feedback on my play in them! thanks


PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 130 BB (VPIP: 81.25, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 17)
CO: 124 BB (VPIP: 25.81, PFR: 25.81, 3Bet Preflop: 25.00, Hands: 32)
BTN: 100 BB (VPIP: 16.67, PFR: 8.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 12)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 15.15, 3Bet Preflop: 7.69, Hands: 33)
Hero (BB): 83.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, BTN raises to 4 BB, fold, Hero raises to 9.5 BB, UTG calls 8.5 BB, BTN calls 5.5 BB

Flop: (29 BB, 3 players) 8 Q 6
Hero bets 31 BB, UTG raises to 62 BB, fold, Hero raises to 74 BB and is all-in, UTG calls 12 BB

Turn: (177 BB, 2 players) K

River: (177 BB, 2 players) 5

Hero shows A A (One Pair, Aces)
(Pre 82%, Flop 25%, Turn 18%)
UTG shows Q 8 (Two Pair, Queens and Eights)
(Pre 18%, Flop 75%, Turn 82%)
UTG wins 171 BB

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PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: 101 BB (VPIP: 11.11, PFR: 5.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
CO: 107 BB (VPIP: 19.05, PFR: 19.05, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 21)
BTN: 107.5 BB (VPIP: 13.33, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 46)
SB: 105.5 BB (VPIP: 32.00, PFR: 20.00, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 25)
BB: 26.5 BB (VPIP: 18.18, PFR: 18.18, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 46)
Hero (UTG): 107.5 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 8 8

Hero raises to 2.5 BB, fold, fold, BTN calls 2.5 BB, fold, fold

Flop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) T 9 6
Hero bets 6 BB, BTN raises to 15.5 BB, Hero calls 9.5 BB

Turn: (37.5 BB, 2 players) 8
Hero checks, BTN bets 18 BB, Hero calls 18 BB

River: (73.5 BB, 2 players) 9
Hero bets 71 BB, BTN raises to 71.5 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 0.5 BB and is all-in

BTN shows 9 T (Full House, Nines full of Tens)

Hero shows 8 8 (Full House, Eights full of Nines)

BTN wins 209 BB


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PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

CO: 50 BB (VPIP: 42.86, PFR: 28.57, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 7)
BTN: 511 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)
Hero (SB): 92.5 BB
BB: 101.5 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 37.50, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB, CO posts penalty blind 1.5 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 3 BB) Hero has 4 A

CO checks, fold, Hero calls 0.5 BB, BB raises to 4 BB, CO calls 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB

Flop: (12.5 BB, 3 players) 2 T 3
Hero checks, BB bets 6 BB, fold, Hero calls 6 BB

Turn: (24.5 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, BB bets 12 BB, Hero raises to 28.5 BB, BB calls 16.5 BB

River: (81.5 BB, 2 players) 4
Hero bets 28.5 BB, BB raises to 63 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 25.5 BB and is all-in

BB shows A 6 (Straight, Six High)
(Pre 57%, Flop 38%, Turn 7%)
Hero shows 4 A (Straight, Five High)
(Pre 43%, Flop 62%, Turn 93%)
BB wins 183 BB


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PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 74 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
SB: 115.5 BB (VPIP: 10.87, PFR: 8.70, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 46)
BB: 138 BB (VPIP: 40.38, PFR: 36.54, 3Bet Preflop: 35.71, Hands: 53)
UTG: 110 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
MP: 81 BB (VPIP: 39.68, PFR: 6.35, 3Bet Preflop: 3.70, Hands: 63)
Hero (CO): 169 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 6 6

fold, MP raises to 3 BB, Hero calls 3 BB, fold, fold, fold

Flop: (7.5 BB, 2 players) 2 Q 5
MP checks, Hero bets 5 BB, MP raises to 10 BB, Hero calls 5 BB

Turn: (27.5 BB, 2 players) 6
MP bets 26.5 BB, Hero raises to 156 BB and is all-in, MP calls 41.5 BB and is all-in

River: (163.5 BB, 2 players) A

MP shows Q Q (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 81%, Flop 98%, Turn 98%)
Hero shows 6 6 (Three of a Kind, Sixes)
(Pre 19%, Flop 2%, Turn 2%)
MP wins 158 BB


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PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 286.5 BB (VPIP: 14.22, PFR: 12.25, 3Bet Preflop: 9.09, Hands: 209)
Hero (SB): 97 BB
BB: 104 BB (VPIP: 13.70, PFR: 9.59, 3Bet Preflop: 4.35, Hands: 147)
UTG: 106.5 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 1)
MP: 80 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
CO: 179 BB (VPIP: 12.50, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

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

UTG calls 1 BB, fold, CO raises to 4 BB, fold, Hero raises to 8 BB, fold, UTG calls 7 BB, CO calls 4 BB

Flop: (25 BB, 3 players) 9 4 5
Hero bets 16 BB, UTG calls 16 BB, fold

Turn: (57 BB, 2 players) 5
Hero checks, UTG bets 15 BB, Hero calls 15 BB

River: (87 BB, 2 players) 2
Hero checks, UTG bets 28 BB, Hero calls 28 BB

UTG shows 5 8 (Three of a Kind, Fives)
(Pre 16%, Flop 19%, Turn 95%)
Hero mucks A A (Two Pair, Aces and Fives)
(Pre 84%, Flop 81%, Turn 5%)
UTG wins 138 BB


The two hands vs the limpers - how can I avoid those hands? I thought when I reraise propperly big, and I think I did. How can those hands call - to even get me in my position. Is my play still +ev? Even though I lost a lot the last days to hands similar like that?

Please only post one hand per thread.

I can tell by looking at these hands that you have very obvious bet sizing leaks.

edit: you are running bad too, so it's both

Stupid me should have known. Sorry for the greedy 4 hands post.

With bet sizing leaks you are referring to my too big raises/bets, right? I somehow feel that I need to bet pot size to shake off drawy chasers, when I feel like I am ahead that is a good thing to do, isn't it? Vilian needs to call half pot, giving him odds of 50%, so when he calls and is behind I gain value?!

The AA vs limper Q8 hand was a big reraise, done to be able to narrow him down on a range. Weong play?

It's actually both that and going to small in some spots. Your 3bet sizing with AA in both hands is really bad. Not only are you losing value, but you're allowing villain to profitably call with basically 100% of their range (which is even worse for you out of position).

There are a couple of problems with your reasoning about the large bets, but I'll let someone else get that one.

I don't think you have any choice but continuing against the flop raise. Shoving seems fine to me.

Its like a string of bad beats....sorry.

The 3rd hand, i'd raise pre instead of limping in sb. Also I'd raise the xraise the flop.

And what whitemares said, your 3 bets are too small.

In general, you don't want to chase away drawy chasers if by "shake off" you mean making them fold their gutshots, FD's etc.

As for the hands.

Hand 1: Size bigger. Especially when you're not in position. You can 3-bet smaller when you'll be playing in position but still bigger than what you did in that spot. You basically clicked it back. I usually make it 3-3.5x when I 3-bet in position and 4x when I 3-bet out of position.

Hand 2: Pre-flop is ok. On the flop, why lead out with a pot-sized bet on a flop that if you get called you're almost never good. If you're trying to get a fold from him on that flop, he'll fold to 30% pot bet as well. No need to bomb it with a weak hand. Obviously the runout is disgusting (heh, there's no variance in poker, right ? ) but it's a hand in which you overplayed your eights. Stop leading so big in these spots if your intention is to get a fold. And when your pot sized bet on the flop gets raised in this spot, fold.

Hand 3: I would lead turn as well and not check raise. All in all, this wasn't bad, it's pretty fine, you just happened to run into a monkey that's clicking buttons.

Hand 4: Again, you lead 5 BB into 7 BB on the flop with 66 on Q 2 5 rainbow, looking for him to fold what ? He's not folding a queen; there aren't many fives in his range other than pocket fives to which you are behind and A5s; there are no realistic draws on that flop. So again, if you lead to get a fold in these spots, I think you should lead smaller. When you get check-raised ( min-raised ) from random button-clicking monkeys on this dry texture at these limits, alarm bells should start ringing in your head. It's obviously a cooler from the turn card on, but you could have played it better on the flop.

Hand 5: See hand 1. 3-bet bigger.

Thanks a lot for your feedback, when I do my study alone I tend to get to the conclusion that I'm just running bad, but you pointed out some very helpful mistakes. really appreciated.

Let's see if can adopt my play in the next sessions. Just to make sure regarding the 3bet size, with 3x you mean to 3x his raise? If he limps is a 3 bet size of 3x a standard 2,5bb or 3bb (9bb) the right play? Or would I only raise for 3bb?

I guess 3x a standard raise is appropriate.

Thank you again!

Yeah, it's basically 3x the size of his bet.

In position :So if somebody raises to 3BB, make it at least 9 BB ( I usually make it 10 BB in position ). If somebody raises to 2 BB ( min-raise ), make it at least 6 BB ( I usually make it 7 BB.) To get to numbers, let's say somebody opens UTG to 3BB (0,06), it folds to you on the button and you 3-bet to 10 BB ( 0,20 ), now the pot is 0,29 ( taking the blinds into account ). UTG needs to put in another 14 to see the pot, so he's getting about 2 to 1 to see a flop when you're in position.

Out of position : Make it at least 4x the inital raise. ( I again usually make it 4x + 1 BB ). So, same story. UTG opens to 0,06, you're in the SB this time and 3-bet to 0,26. The pot is now 0,34. He needs to put in another 20 cents to see a flop and he's getting worse than 2 to 1. This is so I can win more pots pre-flop out of position. Make it at least 4x his raise ( you don't need to add that 1 BB more like I do). If you make it 0,24, he still has to pay 0,18 for a pot of 0,32. Still worse than 2 to 1.


In case of limpers. If you raise to isolate a limper, 3x isn't enough. Just do the math. if UTG limps. And you raise him UTG+1 to 3BB, you're making him pay 0,04 for a pot of 0,11. Almost 3 to 1. Not to mention that you're giving the BB the same odds to call and other players might feel inclined to call as they have to put in 0,06 into a pot of 0,11, almost exactly 2 to 1. If you 4x the limp, you're giving the initial limper and the BB 2 to 1 odds to call. I, generally 4x-5x the limpers. Depends on the situation and if am in position and how many people are left behind to act. You don't want a multi-way pot when you isolate a limp. So, the bigger the better. By 5xing it, you're not giving them the right price to call and you almost make sure that you're going on for the ride just with him.


Hope this helps.

A lot, thanks for your time!

Work on your hand reading, bet sizing, and fold more flops. Especially with underpairs and action. Something to consider is value range targeting. I see you making bets and raises off of the strength of your hand, but not considering what Villian is holding. When the board has a 2, 3, 4, 5 on it, what hand can Villian call a bet with? I would be betting maybe 1/3 pot on the river and fold to a raise in this spot. Even a set would probably just call a decent sized bet. A raise is a 6 every time. Also, every hand you 3 bet, including Aces needs to be at least 3X the original bet. I 4X OOP. But, that’s just my preference. So when you min 3 bet, your hand is pretty much face up, and your opponent can play perfect poker against you. Work on your opponents ranges in every street of the hand, and work on what ranges of hands you can continue with on every street, based off of your opponents action, bet sizing, and possible scare cards. Once you work on those concepts you’ll see an improvement in your game.

One hand per post next time, so these are brief:

1. bigger PF, smaller OTF (set up to shove turn),
2. check flop, donk shoving river as played at 2NL is probably fine,
3. raise PF. could c/r flop. might just c/r shove turn with weird SPR. think i would c/c river as played because we certainly aren't value betting,
4. either check back flop or fold to flop c/r,
5. a lot bigger PF, bet turn -- no reason to check