Bad habit to get into or moneysaver? Do you need more than just a strong gut feeling and logical reasoning?

On the first hand, I was pretty certain I knew what he had, but called down anyway because of the possibility of 1 or 2 other hands.

On the 2nd hand, I folded and was actually correct that I was beaten, but for the wrong reasons. The pot was tremendous and I know think I should have called for that reason. Is this results oriented because my read was bad?

On the 3rd hand, I thought I was beat, but had to call the river. I thought about checking and even folding on the river, but again for the wrong read.


Hand 1:
UTG [Ks]
SB 21/14/50
BB a goof - pay no attention

I raise, folded around to SB who 3-bets, BB calls, I cap, both call
[Js][Kh] Pot 12 SB
SB bets, BB calls, I raise, SB 3-bets, BB calls, I call
Pot 10.5 BB
At this point I was fairly certain he had JJ with the outside chance of AK or AQ. I thought about actually folding the turn, but is that too weak in a pot that is this large now? SB bet turn and BB folded. I called his turn and river bets. They didn't change the outcome. Is AK foldable in this situation with TPTK?

Hand 2:
SB [Qc]
UTG+1 - extremely aggressive (28/16/47)
Button - borderline retarded, pay no mind
BB - 36/13/35

UTG+1 raises, UTG+2 is all-in for $1.75, Button 3-bets, I cap, BB, UTG+1, and Button call
[5h][9c] Pot 17.75 SB
I bet, BB calls, UTG+1 raises, Button calls, I call, BB calls
Pot 12.75 BB
I check, BB checks, UTG+1 bets, BB calls, I fold - too weak in a big pot? I mean UTG raised a very tight preflop capper (me) on the flop. Can I expect any competant player to do that with JJ not fearing that any of us have a bigger pair?

Hand 3:
Everyone's favorite [Kh] MP2
UTG 12/11/31
UTG+1 32/28/40 and liked to get cute with check-raising scare cards vs PFRers

UTG raises, UTG+1 3-bets, I cap, both call
[9c][3s] Pot 13.5 SB
UTG bets, UTG+1 calls, I raise, UTG 3-bets, UTG+1 folds, I call
Pot 10.25 BB
UTG checks - I was thinking AA, but the check threw me off so I bet and he called.
Pot 12.25 BB
UTG checks, I bet, UTG check-raises. Does a player that tight do that with anything less than AA? Remember that I capped the flop and I was playing very tight myself. I called, but if I had QQ would a fold be out of the question?

I'm starting to think that calling down in these spots is slowly killing my bottom line in tough 1/2 games. A year ago this probably wouldn't have hurt me as much, but now with only 1 loose or bad player most times at each table, a bet saved is a bet earned right? Do I need to adjust my game and start making these folds in tougher games at these low limits?

I knew you'd like that 3rd hand.

Which one is SSH HPFAP. I have the red book. Forgot which one that is. I've read it like 3x, but even though this is still small stakes holdem, I don't think it applies to these games anymore online. I rarely find tables with a VP$IP over 30. I'm almost giddy when it's not under 20.

I've played 2 sessions of short-handed so far and it was kinda maniacal both times. I posted some of the hands from the 2nd session in my journal the other day, but I'm seeing at least 1 or 2 players at 50/20/50 or better per table. One table had a 75/40/50 and an 80/30/60 sitting right next to each other. And they were winning! It's much more volatile playing against them than just the guy who wants to limp in and see every flop.

Resist his evil ways MT, me and you can talk FR all day long. Screw the midget poker players....short is bunk.