Did I play this straight correctly?

Did I do anything wrong here? I was trying to steal the blind with that hand. Is that okay?

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG+1 ($1.83)
Hero (MP1) ($2.66)
MP2 ($2.12)
CO ($4.06)
Button ($3.70)
SB ($4.43)
BB ($6.31)
UTG ($4.23)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 6, A
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.02, Hero bets $0.06, 5 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.04

Flop: ($0.15) 4, 8, 5 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.15) 7 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $0.20, UTG+1 raises to $0.40, Hero raises to $2.60 (All-In), UTG+1 calls $1.37 (All-In)

River: ($3.69) K (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $3.69 | Rake: $0.24

I really don't like isolating the UTG limper with this hand because we're dominated often, are unlikely to pick up the pot pre flop and have a bunch of people to act after us who have position on us that could wake up with something.

If we do iso raise here, we need to make it more, typically 4.5 - 5 bbs, but we'd need utg to be limp folding or giving up flops a lot and a stronger hand to do this with.

This is a bad flop in the sense he wont fold to much that he limp called here unless he's awful and plays lots of broadways this way. Since it's an iso'ed pot though and we have outs, I'd go ahead and c bet to try and pick the pot up.

The rest of the hand is fine when we reach the turn imo.

How much do you think I should have bet on the flop?

The general rule on preflop raises is that you raise 3bb+1bb per limper to 5+1bb per limper. At lower limits I think 4 or 5+ is better, so .08-.12 works.

I don't mind a suited ace to raise a weak limper. You might be dominated, but chances are that a cbet takes the pot down most of the time. It's a trial and error kind of thing. Some opponents allow you to do this, some don't.

After the check there's no way I check behind. The only way we can iso with Axs is if we plan to cbet flops like this. Add a gut shot and checking here is a sin. I'd be .12, but it's hard to give you an exact most-profitable bet. A good rule is to be whatever you'd bet with an over-pair.

You hit the gin card on the turn, just get it in however you can. If he beats you here consider it a cooler and move on to the next hand.

Originally Posted by xpaand

Did I do anything wrong here? I was trying to steal the blind with that hand. Is that okay?

I think you are in a way too early position to be thinking about stealing the blinds preflop as you have 5 people to act behind you.
Apart from that , what was your plan if you were raised preflop. Say you had callers and saw the flop multiway and an Ace on the flop ,what was your plan then.
from your other post, before the freetrollers messed up the posts i asked

I asked what your VPIP/PFR/AF stats were so that we could try and tell whether you are playing too many hands and therefore too many marginal hands and likely from being out of position.

from the starting hands and positions you are posting I'm getting the impression that you are playing too loosely for full ring.

Nah I play really tight, but I once in a blue moon call things that I shouldn't. I know it's bad, but a losing 6 cents doesn't really bother me you know? And for the real stats, I just started using PokerOffice 5 two days ago so it might be skewed: 22/13/23.

And you bring up really good points as to what I would've done if I was gonna call OOP.

Oh wait. Is AF Aggression Factor or Aggression Frequency? My Aggression Factor is 2. My Aggression Frequency is 23.

IMO I wouldn't have raised that pre flop. I also really don't see the point of trying to steal the blinds at the .02 BB level.

I would have continuation bet the flop with a bet of .10

Other then that what the hell you got all the money in the pot with the second best possible hand.

i don't know how FR plays that well, but I don't mind isolating with A6s here, but you need to make it more. that is such a weak raise and will get over calls a lot i think. i would c-bet this flop as well, and obv stack off on the turn.

I think A6s is fine to raise PF in a 6max, but at these levels of FR you're going to have to hit the flop hard in order to make any progress because most people will call you down. A6s is only looking to hit a flush honestly, an A isn't what you're trying to hit.

Well I think you played the straight correctly. But the beginning of the hand is questionable. As stated above you are really looking to hit a flush/Fdraw or maybe 2pr (or one hell of a lucky straight). One thing I still struggle with is to look at poker as a long run game and not be results oriented. I think you will end up losing more than you gainn from raising this EP.

On a side note, had you limped in and let some other players come along how much more value would you have gained. Axs is a hand I would rather play in a multiway pot when the return can be much higher.

Yeah, you're hoping to flop the nuts/nuts draw, no need to raise, it's a better limp behind hand because if you don't hit the flush you really have no idea where you are.

Originally Posted by davekp2003

Other then that what the hell you got all the money in the pot with the second best possible hand.

Yeah I know, but I could just tell the guy didn't have 69. He wasn't that poor of a player to call a RR PF like that.

Originally Posted by ArcadianRock

Yeah, you're hoping to flop the nuts/nuts draw, no need to raise, it's a better limp behind hand because if you don't hit the flush you really have no idea where you are.

Originally Posted by lockpull

On a side note, had you limped in and let some other players come along how much more value would you have gained. Axs is a hand I would rather play in a multiway pot when the return can be much higher.

Yeah very solid points guys. Thanks for the feedback. Won't make that mistake again!

Originally Posted by xpaand

Originally Posted by davekp2003

Other then that what the hell you got all the money in the pot with the second best possible hand.

Yeah I know, but I could just tell the guy didn't have 69. He wasn't that poor of a player to call a RR PF like that.

I think he more meant that you got all the money in with 2nd nuts so good job.

LOL oh. I thought he meant "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Yes I meant, What the hell (translation probably not the best route but MISSION ACCOMPLISHED) I'm guessing he didn't have the 69 did he??

Also I strongly agree with the previous poster, you want as many people in the hand as possible with Axs especially A6 as it's difficult to make a straight with that hand i.e. more opportunity with A5.

I've read a few books and it took me a while to figure out the concept why would I want more people in the hand wouldn't I want to go up against less opponents? But with suited connectors you really need to hit the flop hard and hope you can stack someone, otherwise get out of the way.

I also agree with the previous poster/s. Axs plays more like a suited connector for mine... you want lots of people seeing a flop, because when you have a hand it's likely to be super strong - two pair or flush, and if you hit an ace, its a bonus, but you won't stack off with your weak kicker (well shouldn't anyway). I agree with the point about not stealing blinds at this level. You should be playing solid ABC poker, healthy pots with TPGK are easy to come by, its not as though you have to steal the blinds to stay afloat you know? Raising too much without premium hands at this level can be a big chip spew for many inexperienced players.

I think you should definetly Cbet this flop, you've picked up outs, it's checked to you, and your opponent is unlikely to have a piece of that flop.

As you move up in limits not raising in these situations gets less and less profitable. I think it's a toss up here, but there are good reasons to raise this preflop. We're isolating a limper and since the blinds will be folding the majority of the time, there's some extra dead money in the pot. You also buy position most of the time since a raise after a limper tends to mean more than an open raise. I don't mind it here, but starting at 25nl or 50nl where there are regs paying attention to your play, limping behind in MP with Axs isn't going to be as profitable as raising to isolate.

Originally Posted by dev

We're isolating a limper and since the blinds will be folding the majority of the time, there's some extra dead money in the pot. You also buy position most of the time since a raise after a limper tends to mean more than an open raise.

I think you overestimate the standard of play down at 2NL dev. The blinds won't be folding a majority of the time in my experience, they call because ''they have already got money in the pot'' so naturally putting in 4x more is fine. This is the stock-standard mentality in my own experience. And also from his position I don't think it's safe to say he'd often buy position, i'd normally expect one or two callers behind here. Putting hero in quite an awkward position.

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbito

Originally Posted by dev

We're isolating a limper and since the blinds will be folding the majority of the time, there's some extra dead money in the pot. You also buy position most of the time since a raise after a limper tends to mean more than an open raise.

I think you overestimate the standard of play down at 2NL dev. The blinds won't be folding a majority of the time in my experience, they call because ''they have already got money in the pot'' so naturally putting in 4x more is fine. This is the stock-standard mentality in my own experience. And also from his position I don't think it's safe to say he'd often buy position, i'd normally expect one or two callers behind here. Putting hero in quite an awkward position.

What site are you playing on? I'm on Full Tilt right now and they're playing SUPER tight. I've been able to steal blinds very easily, although it's usually not cause I'm trying to. I've never been very motivated by $0.03.

Stealing the blinds is not the point here, it's just a fringe benefit.

Besides, if you're playing .01/.02 then that .03 is worth taking if they're giving it up. Think of your game as a system. When you steal the blinds here you're stealing them a lot of times over the course of a session/day/week/etc. You're losing lot of value if you wont steal the blinds of players who are giving them up easy.

So basically I have to adapt the mentality that every little thing counts. Especially cause I plan on going up the stake ladder, I have to develop the habit of really playing at that stake level and thinking about the money to BI ratio instead of thinking in dollars.

Fold pf.. its a pretty hand .. but with 5 people left to act, I doubt your hand will show a profit long term.

As played raise more preflop. Played fine postflop. If he has 69 oh well.. he is an idiot, move on.

Xpand, I play at pokerstars and at that level you would get callers. Although my play at that level was very limited. Everyone's style is different I just don't think .03 is worth stealing.

What did the opponent have?? I assume you lost as if you won you probably wouldn't have posted.

Originally Posted by davekp2003

Xpand, I play at pokerstars and at that level you would get callers. Although my play at that level was very limited. Everyone's style is different I just don't think .03 is worth stealing.

What did the opponent have?? I assume you lost as if you won you probably wouldn't have posted.

So becuase he plays 2NL it's not worth stealing?

But if he were a 600NL reg that $9 would be well worth grabbing?

I don't think we should be encouraging OP to think of his stakes as being worthless. The blinds in one level are worth just as much in relation to a correct size of bankroll as they are in the next.

Sorry I didn't mean it to sound like that. I meant from his position with that hand I don't think it was worth the risk to steal any blinds. If he were on the button or cut off maybe.

If I came across like a jerk in my previous post I apologize.

Originally Posted by xpaand

So basically I have to adapt the mentality that every little thing counts. Especially cause I plan on going up the stake ladder, I have to develop the habit of really playing at that stake level and thinking about the money to BI ratio instead of thinking in dollars.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by davekp2003

Sorry I didn't mean it to sound like that. I meant from his position with that hand I don't think it was worth the risk to steal any blinds. If he were on the button or cut off maybe.

If I came across like a jerk in my previous post I apologize.

LOL all good. I'm not that sensitive.

Thanks for the great advice as usual guys.

Originally Posted by xpaand

My Aggression Frequency is 23.

nit

Really? I don't feel like I play like a nit... My AggFreq at 800 hands is 26 and my AggFactor is 2.12. Those are totals. I play pretty tight and then go aggressive.

I don't like playing an A6 ever, am I wrong in this decision and why? Maybe from the button with 0 or 2 limper before me....

Originally Posted by xpaand

Really? I don't feel like I play like a nit... My AggFreq at 800 hands is 26 and my AggFactor is 2.12. Those are totals. I play pretty tight and then go aggressive.

You play tight, then wait to hit a hand, and THEN you go aggressive. Do you even cbet?

Yes yes. As I said before, sometimes I just decide to play a hand cause the blinds are worthless to me (in real life, if the change is less than like 15 cents, I never take it). I don't do this anymore though. A6 is not in my starting hands unless I'm on the BU or CO. I always cbet if I open raise and I do min 1/2 pot to 3/4 pot. Is that okay?

A6s, in position, is a very playable hand. If you play an aggressive style and you never play A6s in late position, you're missing out on some solid value.

I said I do play it in late position! If you were just confirming that, then cool. lol

Originally Posted by xpaand

Yes yes. As I said before, sometimes I just decide to play a hand cause the blinds are worthless to me (in real life, if the change is less than like 15 cents, I never take it). I don't do this anymore though. A6 is not in my starting hands unless I'm on the BU or CO. I always cbet if I open raise and I do min 1/2 pot to 3/4 pot. Is that okay?

I wouldn't advise always cbetting. In multiway wet flops where you miss or have a gutshot draw (especially at these stakes), you can actually be getting yourself in more trouble with a cbet. But you definitely want your AFrequency to be higher than 23. It suggests you've got a ways to go before you get to the point where you're cbetting too many flops. With so low an AFrequency, you are limping and folding a lot and/or you are only cbetting your preflop raises when you hit.

Originally Posted by dev

A6s, in position, is a very playable hand. If you play an aggressive style and you never play A6s in late position, you're missing out on some solid value.

Ok I stand corrected....I like it "in position" but in the case in this thread, I would not consider this in position.

Originally Posted by xpaand

Yes yes. As I said before, sometimes I just decide to play a hand cause the blinds are worthless to me (in real life, if the change is less than like 15 cents, I never take it). I don't do this anymore though. A6 is not in my starting hands unless I'm on the BU or CO. I always cbet if I open raise and I do min 1/2 pot to 3/4 pot. Is that okay?

but you didn't cbet this hand

I think you did well .