You won 2 and lost 1? Thats the perfect situation.

If the pots were $8 on the flop ($1/$2 stakes) and you bet $8 each time, you just won $8 in 3 hands. Thats 1.33BB per hand with hands that if you are counting in this exercise, that means ou had nothing. I'd say thats pretty good.

If you had let the hands check around, you most likely wouldve won a big fat zero in those 3 hands.

If you get 3 of these per session, your win rate will be significantly higher.

Just keep a tally sheet to track your progress. If you are losing money doing it, then you are betting the wrong flops.

I forgot to mention that if even 1 of the players in the hand is a known calling station, dont even think about trying it. If youre paying attention, you know who they are.

I stated doing this about the same time I got GT+ up and running and it has made a huge difference to my game. I also started to raise more from LP and the blinds pre-flop when PT told me players that raised 6%+ of hands had limped round to me (for most players the only hands they will limp-call a standard raise with preflop are small and medium pairs and maybe AQo, AJ0 or suited ace with decent kicker.)

It enable me to sit at a table picking off the non-calling stations and the more passive/tighter players until I finally hit a big flop. It also means I get more action when I do hit.

Unfortunately, Ice, all of my tables are full of calling stations. But they do need to have hit something to continue. Usually.

This hand happened a few days ago at the 5c/10c tables at GC.

I get UTG from the big blind, raise it up to 5x. Get two callers. Flop comes all undercards, rainbow, no obvious draws. I bet the pot hoping to take it down, get called in one place -- from my notes this guy is a very bad player. Another undercard, pairs the board. Bet again, about 2/3 pot, the guy just flat calls. I'm like dude I know you're a calling station, but let it go already -- or raise me. Another blank on the river. Am I on tilt? I must be because I'm all-in, maybe about half the pot bet at this point. Lay it DOWN I'm yelling at the screen. Nope, he calls -- with AT unimproved.

Now that's a calling station.

Calling all the way with AT unimproved is definately a calling station, but what does that have to do with "stealing small pots"?

Also, what did you have here? You said you had "UTG" in the BB?

Snort. I had AK. That's a weird typo.

You said "don't try steals when there are calling stations in the hand." My point was that my tables are full of them, so if I take your advice I will rarely try a steal. But I like to try steals, so I want to ignore your advice and try it despite the presence of calling stations.

I will keep trying it and let you know how things go.

But the hand you posted doenst fall into the catagory of hands that I listed for steal opportunities.

Thats doesnt mean you cant play the hand. But you shouldnt count it if youre trying to keep track of these "steal small pot" situations.

Right. Definitely doesn't count. Different point trying to make I was. Made it badly however.