I've decided to start taking poker more seriously and I’d like to get some expert opinions on some hands and situation I'm coming across.
At the moment I play on Party Poker only. It’s often mentioned that the PP blind structure is flawed. Could someone elaborate on this for me? Should I look to be playing more on other sites with better blind structures if I want to take NL more seriously and improve my game?
Nothing too special for the first couple of hands, just a couple of simple situations...
Hand #1
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)
Hero ($52.1)
MP3 ($37.85)
UTG ($135.45)
Preflop: Hero is MP2 with
![The Ace of Clubs [Ac]](https://pofex.com/images/smilies/Ac.gif)
![The King of Clubs [Kc]](https://pofex.com/images/smilies/Kc.gif)
UTG raises to $5, 3 folds, MP3 calls $5, 4 folds.
Flop: ($12.50)
![The Four of Diamonds [4d]](https://pofex.com/images/smilies/4d.gif)
![The Six of Hearts [6h]](https://pofex.com/images/smilies/6h.gif)
![The Seven of Diamonds [7d]](https://pofex.com/images/smilies/7d.gif)
UTG checks, MP3 bets $6, UTG folds.
Final Pot: $18.50
No showdown. MP3 wins $18.50.
Was this just stupidly weak? I was kinda glad that I folded when I saw the flop. UTG was LA-A so I maybe shouldn’t have given him too much credit for a hand (his PFR% was 12%), he was running over the table and I hadn’t seen him show down a hand. Is this a situation where I should call and muck if the flop isn’t favourable or should I really be re-raising with a premium holding like this?
Hand # 2
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (9 handed)
Hero ($72.35)
BB ($44)
UTG ($62.25)
Preflop: Hero is SB with
![The Ace of Diamonds [Ad]](https://pofex.com/images/smilies/Ad.gif)
![The Ace of Spades [As]](https://pofex.com/images/smilies/As.gif)
UTG calls $1, 6 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $3.5, 1 fold, UTG folds.
Should I have just completed the SB or should I always be raising with the big pocket pairs?
That should get me rolling. I'll post some real hands for disection tomorrow.
Thanks in advance.