Leak Plugging question

Hello,

I have been trying to get better and feel I have plugged some leaks in my game. One I am worried I either still have or am overthinking is button raising.

Depending on who you talk to, you should be raising with anywhere from 30-60% of your hands from the button. But my analysis is seeing this as a leak. Here is a hand that illustrates that:

Merge, $0.02/$0.04 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 5 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $2.36 (59 bb)
SB: $4.10 (102.5 bb)
BB: $1.28 (32 bb)
MP: $11.39 (284.8 bb)
CO: $6.82 (170.5 bb)
Hero (): $4 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is with J T
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.14, SB folds, BB calls $0.10
standard rpf otb
I have the SB 21/13/0 and the villain who is 23/7/0 with 23 hands.

Flop: ($0.30) A 3 Q (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.20, BB calls $0.20
I figured I would cbet here to rep an A. I figure he either has an A or worse. If he has an A he will call, if not, he may fold.
Side leak question: I have been advised by various posts and trainings that to open raise the check/fold the flop where I miss is a leak that can be exploited. Should I really worry about being exploited at 4NL 6mx?

Turn: ($0.70) 6 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks
Possible runner/runner for flush? Maybe he checks a set?

River: ($0.70) 4 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.35, BB calls $0.35
I am stabbing. In hindsight I am only going to be called by better. But you need to show some bluffs every now and again. Again is this silly to do so at this level?

Results: $1.40 pot ($0.07 rake)
Final Board: A 3 Q 6 4
BB showed A 7 and won $1.33 ($0.64 net)
Hero showed J T and lost (-$0.69 net)

The upside is I could have lost more if he played more aggressively. His check/call play did save me.

The downside is that I feel, after putting the hand in Flopzilla and PS, I was behind even when I started and should have shut down to save a few chips.

Comments?

He had a weak ace and wanted a small pot. If you check the turn, then check the river too. If you are going for a steal, bet the turn and then give up on river.

Also, playing the button is less about playing the cards themselves but more about getting an edge with position and playing the player.

I try to not raise as much preflop, yes 3x is standard to some people, but if you only raise 2x preflop than on the flop only make it 15c or 1/2 pot, then if he is still in the pot with you by the turn give up. This way you lose less when you steal and get played back at, and he is still gonna call preflop with weaker hands when you have the goods.

Keep in mind that the more often you button raise, the wider your range. So e.g., if you're at 30%, your cbet more credibly reps an A than if you're at 60%. In either case, I'm not particularly surprised to see how the opponent played his hand.

And I agree with opening for less. If 3.5x is your normal opening, you'd probably be well served to change it to less, and if you bet more here than your normal opening, that's simply not a very good idea.

@Vfranks: I have dropped from a pot bet preflop, .14 to .08 and seem to get as many folds. And when I do get called, if I hit, its on. If I miss, I have lost less.

@Arjonius: So I am hearing that the tighter my OTB raising range is, the possibility of repping better hands? Makes good sense. And I have dropped back to min raising, and maybe to to 2.5 if the table will pay it.

Thanks to you both and Happy New Year!

SmilingDave said:

@Arjonius: So I am hearing that the tighter my OTB raising range is, the possibility of repping better hands?

Click to expand...

Maybe think of it this way. If you open 30%, the proportion of hands that include an A is higher than if you open 60%. So, if an A comes on the flop, your c-bet reps an A better if you open 30% because you're more likely to actually have one.