c9h13no3: I already feel like I fold too much. If I "stop playing hands that can be outkicked," what exactly do I play? And what's particularly frustrating about this recent run, is the bets I'm calling are small enough that you'd think it's the correct play to stay in with top pair.
You are not folding too much. This is the basic of poker. Play the hands that have a real potential after the flop. Monsters likeAA, KK, QQ strong hands like JJ, TT, AK, AQs , and speculative hands like suited connectors or pocket pairs. The premium hands are verry strong and they are verry likely to hold when you are heads-up with someone. Problem with this hands is that you have to raise hard preflop to eliminate the limpers and if someone calls he is likely to miss the flop and fold postflop when you bet for value. But than again. They have the power to dominate hands like AJ, AT, KJ, KT and the donk that called with KQ your preflop hard raise with AK is likely to give his stack if a K hits the board. Even if a Q hits the board you still have outs but you have to check to control the size of the pot.
The speculative hands like suited connectors have 2 strong qualities. You can make flushes or streights and in multiwaypots where you can see a flop cheaply you will crush the table when you hit.
The pocket pairs have the potential to make sets. Again in multiwaypots it is carnage when someone hits a set.
Playing only this kind of hands it is not folding too much. It is saving money for the hands where you can value bet. Trying to get lucky is donk play.
PS. You do not have to
bluff at small stakes. Patience and w8 for the hand where you can value bet. At cash tables it is not like when you play tournes and you are pressured by the blinds. If for an hour you do not have hands to play than do not play. Do not try to make something to happen. This is a mistake and you will loose money. If i have to count all the money lost because of the wrong calls when i should had folded untill i've learned my lesson, i think the profit i've made in the short time since i've learned poker is only 1/10. Count the chips you save by folding the marginal hands in a day of play and you will see something incredible.