Ok I got real bad beats today, so I try to figure the hands where I had a chance to actually play better.

Here's one of the hands, early in a tourney. Opinions?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP3 (t1500)
CO (t1460)
Hero (t1280)
SB (t1640)
BB (t1500)
UTG (t1380)
UTG+1 (t1480)
MP1 (t1480)
MP2 (t1780)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, A.
UTG calls t20, 1 fold, MP1 calls t20, MP2 calls t20, 2 folds, Hero raises to t60, 2 folds, UTG calls t40, MP1 calls t40, MP2 calls t40.

Flop: (t270) J, 2, 4 (4 players)
UTG checks, MP1 checks, MP2 bets t120, Hero raises to t240, UTG folds, MP1 calls t240, MP2 calls t120.

Turn: (t990) K (3 players)
MP1 checks, MP2 bets t500, Hero folds, MP1 calls t500.

River: (t1990) 5 (2 players)
MP1 checks, MP2 bets t260, MP1 calls t260.

Final Pot: t2510

Results in white below:
MP1 has Kc 4c (two pair, kings and fours).
MP2 has Ks Js (two pair, kings and jacks).
Outcome: MP2 wins t2510.

besided playing AJ?

that was a weak raise vs limpers with a weak hand pre-flop.
You didnt protect your hand on the flop, but that was a good fold.

Ok, what do you recommend?

What about the re-raise? was that ok or too low?

What hands do you play if not AJ? There's not that much remaining then besides pairs and AK/AQ?

Your pf raise is nothing more than a pot sweetener, noone is going to fold for another 40 chips. So either raise more or dont raise at all.

You need to raise more on the flop as well, after MP2s bet the pot has 410 in it, you need to raise to at least 350 imo. looks like you woulda got sucked out on anyway, but meh.

ok thanks

I just played nearly same hand with limpers, this time without pf raise and with heavier betting later on, worked this time

Do you recommend pf raise at all with AJo (or AJs)?

Also I had position here so why is it wrong to play AJ in the first place?

I would have just called PF, it is early this hand needs to improve to win. When a jack comes on the flop I am all in like a dirty shirt, if I am beat I am beat and just start another SnG. I find this move works amazing early in tourneys especially when they are riddled with donkeys.

You really couldn't play this any weaker.

PF, I prefer to limp here with this many people already in, but If I want to raise, I'm making it at least 120 to go.

Then you min raise the flop. I make this 500 to go.

Then you fold the turn. You really think he has KJ? That is the ONLY hand that bets the flop, calls your raise (not reraising), then Bets into you on the turn. Set's either pop the flop or wait for a CR on the turn. Even if he does have KJ, you gotta play the odds, and the odds are he doesnt.

Interstingly enough, That's what's he got, so take that read (which is right) as you want. If you truly put him on KJ, then kudos to you and NLD. Nut since you provided no Hx on the guy, it's tough to assign an accuracy to that read.

You reraise this flop anything intelligent, K4 gets out of the way, and KJ probably pushes, where you call, and then get sucked out on as a big favorite.

__________________

Thanks Marm.

What's Hx? what's NLD?

I put him on either trips or two pair yes. What else if he bets 500? I did not see any other possibility here.

Hx, not sure the literal meaning but he means read/PT#'s on this guy. and NLD is nice laydown. Weak raise PF, weak raise on the flop... Protect your Top pair top kicker, no min raise the flop.