Taking shots at 100NL and dealing with aggression

I'm taking some shots at 100NL 6max, and so far I'm running hot. I'm getting confident in playing 50NL, so I'm slowly adding some 100NL tables to the mix - playing 1 table at 100 and 3 at 50. Going to a higher level has always been a problem with me; I can vividly remember my struggle going from $0.02/$0.04 limit to $0.05/$0.10, because I adjusted my play so much for the higher level. I started to bluff more, calling down more (in hope of 'making it' at the new level) and other -EV things.

More recently, moving from 25NL to 50NL started with a steep 3 BI downswing, although I got my money in as a favorite. So far I have only played 500 hands at 100NL, but it's time for a review.

Hand 1

Villain turned out to be 24 / 2.6 / 1.67
Everest Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (6 handed) handconverter.com

Hero ($147.50)
BB ($100.00)
UTG ($121.70)
MP ($3.85)
CO ($142.25)
Button ($108.59)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Jh, 9h.
UTG raises to $2, 1 fold, CO calls $2, 1 fold, Hero calls $1.50, BB calls $1.

Flop: ($8) Jd, 2h, 9c (4 players)
Hero bets $8, BB calls $8, UTG folds, CO folds.

Turn: ($24) 6s (2 players)
Hero bets $24, BB raises to $48, Hero raises to $137.5, BB calls $42 (All-In).

River: ($251.50) 6d (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $251.50

The big turn bet was a misclick, I think I should have bet around $18 here. After his minraise, I only thought about folding or moving all-in, and never considered calling. I probably didn't save any money that way, as it was going in anyway on the river, but it might have saved me a bit. I'm still not sure to do if the turn went
Hero bets $18, BB raises to $36, Hero...

Hand 2

Everest Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (6 handed) handconverter.com

BB ($198.00)
UTG ($202.25)
MP ($100.00)
Hero ($92.90)
Button ($29.84)
SB ($99.00)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Ac, Ah.
1 fold, MP raises to $3.5, Hero raises to $12, 3 folds, MP calls $8.50.

Flop: ($25.50) 7s, 7h, 2c (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($25.50) 8h (2 players)
MP bets $19, Hero calls $19.

River: ($63.50) Th (2 players)
MP bets $63.5, Hero folds.

Another one messed up. I tried to play it tricky by checking behind the dry flop, but I should just have shoved the turn before the board got even worse. I think I could also call the river because I have underrepresented my hand so much. In any case I shouldn't be trying to be tricky at a new level and without reads.

Hand 3

Villain turned out to be 42 / 13 / 2.00 (~80 hands) but I don't see how I could have played this in another way:

Everest Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (4 handed) handconverter.com

Button ($101.60)
SB ($28.85)
Hero ($87.50)
UTG ($67.35)

Preflop: Hero is BB with As, Ad.
UTG calls $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $3.5, UTG calls $2.50.

Flop: ($7.50) 8d, Td, 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $5, UTG calls $5.

Turn: ($17.50) 7c (2 players)
Hero bets $12, UTG raises to $58.85, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $88.35

Hand 4

I don't think I could play this another way but Villain's line still confuses me. He was 36 / 19 / 21 (over 50 hands):

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (5 handed) handconverter.com

BB ($157.85)
UTG ($43.95)
Hero ($98.45)
Button ($118.85)
SB ($123.00)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ks, Ts.
UTG calls $1, Hero raises to $4.5, 2 folds, BB calls $3.50, UTG calls $3.50.

Flop: ($14) Kc, 3s, Kd (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $9, BB raises to $153.35, UTG folds, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $176.35




In general, I think I will have more difficult decisions with aggressive villains. At 50NL, I'm usually the aggressor, but when people start playing back at me I often am lost. I also don't know if the 30/20 players are good or bad LAGs. I think it's often the latter, but when I move up I'll probably meet the former sooner or later. I will have to learn how to play with them, because the current weak-tight-aggressive me will be on their menu.


I welcome your comments on the hands & on dealing with aggressive players in general.