How could i have Played this Better?

[Horneris]

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Horneris [ ]
Horneris: raises $2 to $3
lllFSlll: folds
WICKERman2: calls $3
MEA1: folds
berentn: folds
Deneb99: calls $2
*** FLOP *** [ ]
Deneb99: checks
Horneris: bets $3
WICKERman2: raises $5 to $8
Deneb99: folds

This is where i made my big mistake. I was too scared that he had flopped a set or something the way he bet back at me, but now i see i should have made it $24 perhaps to really test this, as my hand is too big to throw away.
If he then goes all in i can consider folding thereby losing less money than if i call it down.

Horneris: calls $5
*** TURN *** [ ] []
Horneris: checks
WICKERman2: bets $15
Horneris: calls $15

This is a bad call, what am i beating? KQ? hmm.

*** RIVER *** [ ] []
Horneris: checks
WICKERman2: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Horneris: shows [ ] (a pair of Queens)
WICKERman2: shows [ ] (two pair, Queens and Jacks)
WICKERman2 collected $52.80 from pot

My cash game is an area which still needs work.

[doubleup]

Bet more on the flop.

Either bet turn and fold to a raise or chk call a bet and chk/fold riv.

If your cash game needs work, play full ring rather than 6 handed.  You will find that you get into less marginal situations.

[Bongo]

Yeah, the pot is $9 on the flop and you bet $3 into it. Looks very weak, and he probably thinks his top pair is good and you've missed.

[snoopy1239]

I would have checked the flop personally.

Given that you didn't...

Out of position to a re-raise is not where you want to be with two streets left, so probably best to repop the Flop. From what I've experienced at these sort of levels, they flat-call with Q-J and re-reraise with the set. Few are sly enough to flat call your re-raise, and if they are, I'd go in search of another table. If they raise again, you can fold, if they smooth call then you can value bet the turn and perhaps check call the River if it looks unfriendly.

That's just me though...

[Horneris]

Yeah, the pot is $9 on the flop and you bet $3 into it. Looks very weak, and he probably thinks his top pair is good and you've missed.

Good point, although i guess i tried to make my bet look weak so he might play back at me. But then for some reason, i did the worst thing possible by just calling and not re-raising when he did.

Just now with AK, i raised $3 pre flop + the flop came K 2 5, i lead out for 4, was re raised to 8, so i made it 24, and he laid it down.

I will also consider just checking the flop sometimes, thanks Snoops

[Smart Money]

Honeris.

Stack sizes often dictate how a hand should be played post-flop. Presuming you both have a decent stack....

In general- don't slow play in cash, and don't bet weakly. The problem with weak bets is that your opponent isn't sure where you are exactly, and so you can't read their strength. Presumably you make a weak flop bet, because you want a weaker hand to raise you- but why do it if you're then scared of a possible set?

You have to bet this flop, but $3 is too small of course. A 3/4 pot bet ($6) is a better amount to bet. I would very rarely re-raise on the flop in cash without a set (if both are deep-stacked), but I would still think I was ahead in this hand. (Partly because most players won't raise with flopped sets when there is someone else still in the pot.)

The jack isn't a good turn card, but you have to think that KQ is more likely than QJ (he cold-called 3xBB.) You have to call the turn bet, and I'd still have you ahead more often than not here.

I'd have lost a little more than you did because I'd have put in my usual value/blocker bet here on the river ($20) as there is little chance of getting raised by a stronger hand, and your opponent should be betting the river here anyway with a stronger hand than the AQ you hold.

[Smart Money]

***Do not check flops in cash if you hit TPTK after raising pre!! ***

[snoopy1239]

***Do not check flops in cash if you hit TPTK after raising pre!! ***

I'm not sure this is sound advice. You should do what works best for you with regards to your own game, table image and the opponents to which you are playing. There are just too many factors to say so emphatically that you should not check these flops in cash. Experimentation is the key.

However, I do agree with Smart Money in that the small Flop bet was a poor move.

[Smart Money]

***Do not check flops in cash if you hit TPTK after raising pre!! ***

I'm not sure this is sound advice. You should do what works best for you with regards to your own game, table image and the opponents to which you are playing. There are just too many factors to say so emphatically that you should not check these flops in cash. Experimentation is the key.

However, I do agree with Smart Money in that the small Flop bet was a poor move.

You are absolutely correct of course, and I should have pre-fixed it with "In general." Also, I always multi-table several at one time so admittedly my play can sometimes be a little "robotic." However if you never check a flop with such a holding you will not be doing too much wrong in cash.

It is mainly the much higher stack/blind ratio that makes NL cash a more "black and white" game than tournament play, and generally slow-playing should be avoided.

[Horneris]

Cant weak looking bets sometimes be a key element to cash success. People will automatically think you're weak and instead of folding try and bluff at you. An example is here. I thought he probably had a missed draw, i actually put him on KJ on the turn, or 2 spades, or KQ at the very most, so i bet $2 to make him go over the top.

Is there not a benefit to this?

PokerStars Game #7953153819:  Hold'em No Limit ($0.50/$1.00) - 2007/01/15 - 15:39:51 (ET)
Table 'Atropos' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Horneris ($159.30 in chips)
Seat 2: rhlsur1 ($58.20 in chips)
Seat 3: Furious ($107.30 in chips)
Seat 4: Lamb of God ($117.05 in chips)
Seat 5: ricardo399 ($43.90 in chips)
Seat 6: jpsnow ($133.20 in chips)
Furious: posts small blind $0.50
Lamb of God: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Horneris [ ]
ricardo399: folds
jpsnow: folds
Horneris: raises $2 to $3
rhlsur1: calls $3
Furious: folds
Lamb of God: folds
*** FLOP *** [ ]
Horneris: checks
rhlsur1: checks
*** TURN *** [ ] []
Horneris: bets $4
rhlsur1: calls $4
*** RIVER *** [ ] []
Horneris: bets $2
rhlsur1: raises $10 to $12
Horneris: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
rhlsur1: shows [ ] (a pair of Sevens)
Horneris: shows [ ] (two pair, Kings and Sevens)
Horneris collected $37.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $39.50 | Rake $1.90
Board [ ]
Seat 1: Horneris showed [ ] and won ($37.60) with two pair, Kings and Sevens

[UpTheMariners]

i dont think your hand is strong enough to act weak

[Smart Money]

Honeris.

I would say it far better to bet that flop than giving free cards. Even though you are only against a single opponent, there are too many draws out there.

I'm never disappointed if I take the pot down on the flop with a high pair (unless I flop a set!) It's not just about winning pots; it's just as important to not lose pots (especially by letting your opponents in cheaply.)

Regarding the weak bet (which is effectively a check) - this, the river, is the place to make it. You correctly had him on a draw and played it nicely. (I always update my notes on players who will bluff the river with a missed draw.)

One other point, a weak continuation bet from a player you don't rate is often a dead giveaway of a monster.