Losing money with medium pocket pairs

After going through some of my hands, I've realized that I'm losing money playing medium pocket pairs. Here are three hands that I recently played. Basically I'm betting the flop and check folding the turn in most these hands. Is that a leak and if so how do I go about fixing that? What will be your approach towards these hands pre and post flop?


Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $0.01/$0.02 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG (Hero): $0.92 (46 bb)
MP: $3.60 (180 bb)
CO: $2.03 (102 bb)
BU: $2.00 (100 bb)
SB: $2.05 (103 bb)
BB: $0.84 (42 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.03) Hero is UTG with 9♣ 9♥
Hero raises to $0.08, 1 fold, CO calls $0.08, 2 players fold, BB calls $0.06

Flop: ($0.25) 6♠ 5♦ J♣ (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.08, CO calls $0.08, BB folds

Turn: ($0.41) 8♣ (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $0.20, UTG (Hero) folds

Total pot: $0.41 (Rake: $0.02)
CO wins $0.39



Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $0.02/$0.05 - 9 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $11.21 (224 bb)
UTG+1 (Hero): $2.32 (46 bb)
MP: $7.71 (154 bb)
MP+1: $17.89 (358 bb)
LP: $3.19 (64 bb)
CO: $4.58 (92 bb)
BU: $7.97 (159 bb)
SB: $5.57 (111 bb)
BB: $8.57 (171 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.07) Hero is UTG+1 with J♦ J♣
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.15, 4 players fold, BTN calls $0.15, 1 fold, BB calls $0.10

Flop: ($0.47) 6♦ 4♥ 8♣ (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.23, BTN calls $0.23, BB raises to $1.39, UTG+1 (Hero) folds, BU folds

Total pot: $1.16 (Rake: $0.05)
BB wins $1.11


Winning Poker, Hold'em No Limit - $0.01/$0.02 - 6 players
Replay this hand on Upswing Poker

UTG: $1.89 (95 bb)
MP (Hero): $0.83 (42 bb)
CO: $3.26 (163 bb)
BU: $0.68 (34 bb)
SB: $0.78 (39 bb)
BB: $1.31 (66 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.03) Hero is MP with 9♦ 9♠
UTG raises to $0.06, Hero calls $0.06, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.06, SB calls $0.05, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.26) K♠ K♥ 5♦ (4 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $0.10, BTN calls $0.10, 2 players fold

Turn: ($0.46) T♦ (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $0.52 (all-in), MP (Hero) folds

Total pot: $0.46 (Rake: $0.02)
BU wins $0.44

Ok.

1st hand - Everything was played correctly, including the check on the turn. The turn card gave you more equity of a gut shot so I would have made the call.

2nd hand - You're the short stack at the table and all under cards on the flop and it was a rainbow. I would have shoved the flop and whatever happens there.

3rd hand - You have 4 people heading to the flop with a middle pair. I would have 3-bet pre to get the others out and go heads up. This way, the opponent will be hesitant on the flop with two kings.

There are times to be patient, but there are times to be aggressive and protect your hands. The key is to reading the situation and reacting to what others do.

First hand just check, second hand go all in (i don,'t know why you have 40bbs but easy decision to shove Js with 40bbs) and 3rd hand just watch players stack (ok you have 40bbs again) but button has 34.. just play with 100bbs and you will have more room for calling.
JJ is not a medium pair hand esp on that flop

In my opinion
1 hand - I would call the turn bet, to see whats happen in the river...
2 hand - in this position with that stack I would go to all in or open with 0,25 for just only player to possible pay with a strong hand
3 - do the basic 3bet to 0.18 or even shove this 99, try isolate more the players with your 3bet

2nd hand - You're the short stack at the table and all under cards on the flop and it was a rainbow. I would have shoved the flop and whatever happens there.

Click to expand...

I often find myself in the similar spot over and over again. I have over pairs but the board is somehow connected. I mean what villain can really have here to jam on the flop? sets? straight?

This is one of the reasons I buy in short stacked so if I have to shove my over pairs and run into cooler it'll take a smaller chunk of my bankroll.

3 - do the basic 3bet to 0.18 or even shove this 99, try isolate more the players with your 3bet

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What's your 3betting range with pocket pairs? 88+ ? I need to readjust my flatting and 3betting range.