A few weeks ago I moved from .05/.10 (where I was winning handily) to .25/.50 at Pokerstars. Well now I'm losing to the tune of 9BB/100 hands after 1000 hands. Thought I'd post a couple of hands to show how an idiot loses money.

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: hero is MP2 with , .
2 folds, UTG+2 calls, 1 fold, hero calls, 2 folds, Button calls, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) , , (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+2 checks, hero bets, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls, UTG+2 folds.



Turn: (3.50 BB) (2 players)
BB bets, hero calls.

River: (5.50 BB) (2 players)
BB bets, hero raises, BB 3-bets, hero calls.

Final Pot: 11.50 BB

Results in white below:
BB has 7s 6h (full house, sevens full of sixes).
hero has Kc Jd (two pair, kings and sevens).
Outcome: BB wins 11.50 BB.

I guess this is a classic case of not being aggressive. I may have knocked the winner out with a pre-flop raise, but he was in the BB so may have called anyway. I also should have raised on the turn as another attempt to knock him out. On the river, after the pair was on the board, I should have called the first time around and saved myself 2 BB.

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: hero is Button with , .
1 fold, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, 4 folds, hero calls, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) , , (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 checks, hero bets, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 folds.

Turn: (3.50 BB) (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, hero bets, UTG+1 raises, hero calls.

River: (7.50 BB) (2 players)
UTG+1 bets, hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.50 BB

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has Ah 7s (full house, sevens full of aces).
hero has Ad Jc (two pair, aces and sevens).
Outcome: UTG+1 wins 9.50 BB.

I got bushwhacked because he slow played the flop and I bit with 2 pair. On the turn he checked, I bit again and he raised me. I guess with a pair on board and a raise I should have folded there. Was I right to bet on the flop? I had top 2 pair and nobody showed any strength.

Any comments on these hands would be greatly appreciated. I have considered going back down to .05/.10 where I was successful but if I can't make it at .25/.50 then what's the point. Thanks and good fishing.

George