Bet sizing and checking OOP

A fairly inconsequential hand but one I was really happy with how I played. On the flop, I looked at the chip stacks and planned the different possible outcomes. Felhixx is the loose aggressive soft spot at the table, Morit is a fairly tight short-stacker.

My first thought was to bet enough to cover the shortstack. But then I realised:
a) he'll only call if he has me crushed with a better hand
b) the LAG could shove and put me in a really awkward spot with a tough decision

So I bet half the Morits stack, which meant:
- if Morit pushes I'm now last to act and I a better idea where I'm at
- I'm only risking $2 instead of $4
- my decisions are much simpler and most likely pure pot odds


Hand #1
Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2009/02/05 4:29:13 ET
Table 'Henan' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($24.85 in chips)
Seat 4: derLude36 ($4.65 in chips)
Seat 5: morit23 ($5.35 in chips)
Seat 6: Felhlixx ($15.60 in chips)
Seat 7: taejin1997 ($5.10 in chips)
Seat 9: aym198 ($26.85 in chips)
crozex88 joins the table at seat #8
taejin1997: posts small blind $0.10
aym198: posts big blind $0.25
crozex88 leaves the table
mizzz_poker: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump[8s 8d]
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
derLude36: folds
morit23: raises $1 to $1.25
Felhlixx: calls $1.25
wingoodwin joins the table at seat #8
taejin1997: folds
aym198: folds
Forrest Gump: calls $1
*** FLOP *** [5d 6d 2h]
Forrest Gump: bets $2
morit23: folds
Felhlixx: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to Forrest Gump
Forrest Gumpcollected $3.90 from pot
Forrest Gump: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.10 | Rake $0.20
Board [5d 6d 2h]
Seat 1: Forrest Gumpcollected ($3.90)
Seat 4: derLude36 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: morit23 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Felhlixx (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: taejin1997 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: aym198 (big blind) folded before Flop




A big change I've made to my game is almost always checking when I'm first to act. Esp. at those typical loose aggressive micro games, I find the decision making so much easier after watching everyone else act and I believe I've plugged a leak that was in my game.

Hand #2
Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2009/02/05 4:35:50 ET
Table 'Sputnik' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: vjoerambler ($21.30 in chips)
Seat 2: aznnation200 ($15.60 in chips)
Seat 3: okupa ($20 in chips)
Seat 5: Hijoel ($13.45 in chips)
Seat 6: akmalb ($3.90 in chips)
Seat 7: Forrest Gump($23.40 in chips)
Seat 9: kondr73 ($12.25 in chips)
akmalb: posts small blind $0.10
Forrest Gump: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump[Qs Ks]
kondr73: folds
vjoerambler: folds
aznnation200: raises $0.50 to $0.75
okupa: folds
Hijoel: calls $0.75
akmalb: folds
Forrest Gump: calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [Kh 6h 2h]
qwert4664 joins the table at seat #4
Forrest Gump: checks
aznnation200: checks
Hijoel: checks
*** TURN *** [Kh 6h 2h] [7s]
Forrest Gump: bets $1.40
aznnation200: folds
Hijoel: folds
Uncalled bet ($1.40) returned to Forrest Gump
Forrest Gumpcollected $2.25 from pot
Forrest Gump: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.35 | Rake $0.10
Board [Kh 6h 2h 7s]
Seat 1: vjoerambler folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: aznnation200 folded on the Turn
Seat 3: okupa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Hijoel (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 6: akmalb (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Forrest Gump(big blind) collected ($2.25)
Seat 9: kondr73 folded before Flop (didn't bet)