need some help with a major leak in my game.

[Binbs 0]

Ive been playing Hold em for about a year now, but there are two areas that Im having real trouble playing correctly and lose money to when playing. Playing pocket pairs 88-TT and raising preflop with AK, AQ, AJ and missing the flop, whereafter I try and take the pot and end up losing a lot of money.Normally I raise with those big hands, and when the flop comes I bet into the pot making a pot sized bet. This is usually called. I then either check on the turn and end up losing the pot cuz my opponent either 1) has something thats better than Ace high or 2) my opponnent senses weakness and bets to push me outta the pot.I know that a smart opponent will sense weakness just like I do and try and bet to push me out, which is why I want to keep trying to bet the turn again. Of course this sometimes results in me losing a lot more money than I should have that hand.I have the same problem with small pocket pairs basically. Ive also learned that I need to be much more cautious and play the hand according to what position I am in, as most likely I will miss the flop with AK, AQ and AJ. Ive also learned that I need to be more aware of how much I raise as if I want to make a pot sized bet I dont want to raise too much, but I also do not want too many ppl on the flop with me.If anyone has experience with this problem please advice me on how you plugged this leak in your game.Thanks in advance,Binbs.Ps: Here is a good example of me losing money on a PP.Im dealt 66 in a 6 man game. Ive got the biggest stack on the table, 79 dollars on a max 50 dollar buyin.> odog05 posted small blind ($0.25)> Binbs posted big blind ($0.50)> Game # 263,908,104 starting.> Dealing Hole Cards> Borreborre folded> thigt called for $0.50> Maverick_17 folded> odog05 called for $0.25> Binbs bet for $1.50> thigt called for $1.50> odog05 folded> Dealing the Flop(7 A 9 )> Binbs bet for $2.50> thigt called for $2.50> Dealing the turn(10 )> Binbs checked> thigt checked> Dealing the river(Q )> Binbs bet for $1.50> thigt called for $1.50> thigt shows One Pair, Nines(9 9 A Q J )> thigt wins $11.90 with One Pair, Nines

[NorthPacific 25]

I used to attach myself to low/mid pp but have started to take to heart the old addage, set them or forget them. If I don't hit a set on the flop or if my pp isn't either tp or didn't fall into an OESD on the flop then they go into the muck. As for the Ak-AJ, I still have some problems with them. I have had good luck stealing the pot when they don't hit but have very little problem (ok sometime I have a problem but I'm getting better) at letting them go if someone shows strength.The best advice I've received and that I try to follow is to discipline yourself to let go of those strong pf hands go when they don't improve especially when someone shows strength.

[KenP 0]

My god! The thing about low to mid pockets is that you can fold them easily. Any card on the flop pairing beat you and you tried to steal the pot. You are in a low stakes holdem game. Bluffing isn't all that it is cracked up to be in such a game. You were playing a fool but he was playing a bigger one... :)The game you are playing plays a bit better in the SnG games. And, it limits your losses when you play that way. You need to play a lot of hands and a 1-.10 SnG at UB or such will let you experience play at a minimal cost. The level of play in those $1 SnGs isn't great but it is typically better than low blind NL.AJo is a limping hand; AQo isn't much better. They are hands you can try to steal with from the button or one off trying to buy the button. From early position they are limpers at best. You need to consider position probably more than you are considering cards at this point. All the hands you described are drawing hands. All must be considered eminently foldable. The only reason to play them beyond the flop is pot odds with a reasonable draw.Go to someplace like http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_odds/texas_holdem.php and use the odds calculator. You will see just what kind of odds are staring you in the face with the hands and flops you are describing.

[JaysonWeber 0]

Hands like AJ and AQ should be played different in different situations.Last night I was 3-tabling UltimateBet. 2 of my tables were similar, but the third was a lot different. So one 2 tables I was raising the pot with AJ or AQ from EP throughout. On the third table, I was limping with these same hands anywhere but UTG+1 to UTG. Its all texture of how the table is being played really.

[Binbs 0]

yea I think Kenp hit it on the head. I really need to consider position much more when playing these hands. And not value them so much that I raise like that with them.Thanks for the advice. Ill definately work on playing position much more from now on.

[ChuckSty 0]

i think Jayson hit it right on. on some tables people will be playing a -9 like they are the best two cards in the world. and on these tables the value of a-j and a -q go up. i generally like to limp unless real close to the button and see if anyone raise behind me. then if an ace hits and i run into someone showing strenght i know my a-j or a-q might not be good. at lower limits i think the value goes up some but if you are playing higher limits or even no limit you need to be really careful with the ever sketch a-j and a-qas far as mid pocket pairs. hit the set or foldem. in a tourney you can probably still steal some flops but on limit tables i would generally just muck them. unless i am heads up and then i guess i might sometimes think they are good. but i am often wrong about this and i think i leak a little from these hands.

[JaysonWeber 0]

Binbs! I was browsing 2+2 and saw a post that looked familiar... haha!Double posting things, shame on you! Anyways instead of replying over there I linked them to this discussion about it

[Binbs 0]

Jayson you are right. It also depends on the players at the table. Ill keep that in mind. Thanks for the input.Yea I use 2 + 2 to get some opinions as well. This is my first forum that I started browing about poker which is why I mostly look here, altho 2+2 has a lot more posters so its nice to get everyones opinions on poker.=)

[JaysonWeber 0]

Yeah but you have to sift through 700 worthless posts to find a good one over there, I think the last time I checked it was only 7-1 here ;)Just playin', Hope you sign up for the ForumTournaments man, we can take 2+2 to school, they've had some words about us over there.

[wrto4556 0]

Just playin',  Hope you sign up for the ForumTournaments man, we can take 2+2 to school, they've had some words about us over there.

I havn't seen any.