Bet Sizing

[AceKing]

I've always been struggling with the sizing of my bets. Sometimes I underbet my raises, sometimes I overbet my values. So I would really appreciate it if someone could help me out with my bet sizing as I walk through one of my hands. Full Tilt Poker Game #23239812641: $1 + $0.20 Sit & Go (179626747), Table 1 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:08:29 ET - 2010/08/20 Seat 1: alberto755 (1,400) Seat 2: lisaacesonly (1,400) Seat 3: PocketAde (1,700) Seat 4: lathe67 (1,500) Seat 5: miguelixyz (1,500) Seat 6: redelpoker17 (1,500) lisaacesonly posts the small blind of 15 PocketAde posts the big blind of 30 The button is in seat #1 *** HOLE CARDS *** Dealt to PocketAde [8c Kd] alberto755: o si lathe67 folds miguelixyz folds redelpoker17 calls 30 alberto755 calls 30 lisaacesonly calls 15 PocketAde checks (In the big blind, with so many limpers, checking with rags would be the best option right?) *** FLOP *** [8s Ks 7h] lisaacesonly checks PocketAde bets 120 (pot sized bet, since I flopped top 2 pair. Was trying to extract any information and to see where I stand. Also to protect my hand against flush draws) redelpoker17 calls 120 alberto755 folds lisaacesonly folds *** TURN *** [8s Ks 7h] PocketAde bets 360 (Brick on the turn, continued with another pot sized bet) redelpoker17 calls 360 *** RIVER *** [8s Ks 7h 4c] PocketAde has 15 seconds left to act PocketAde bets 300 (Most likely I have the best hand, but a few ace rags might beat me now. Value bet less than 1/3 of the pot) redelpoker17 calls 300 *** SHOW DOWN *** PocketAde shows [8c Kd] two pair, Kings and Eights redelpoker17 mucks PocketAde wins the pot (1,680) with two pair, Kings and Eights *** SUMMARY *** Total pot 1,680 | Rake 0 Board: [8s Ks 7h 4c Ad] Seat 1: alberto755 (button) folded on the Flop Seat 2: lisaacesonly (small blind) folded on the Flop Seat 3: PocketAde (big blind) showed [8c Kd] and won (1,680) with two pair, Kings and Eights Seat 4: lathe67 didn't bet (folded) Seat 5: miguelixyz didn't bet (folded) Seat 6: redelpoker17 mucked [4d 7s] - two pair, Sevens and Fours So, how the the sizing of my bets? Were they far off? Thanks.

[chenghao]

Your purpose has to be in sync with your tournament strategy

My strategy for tournaments @ low levels is to conserve chips @ the start , steal/resteal @ mid blinds , challenge as many pots as possible @ bubble , and then late stage , go for either 3rd or 1st , never 2nd.

there are other strategies out there like aiming to double up early ( can be used in freerolls where it cost u nothing to push early and with a big stack early on , you can play more hands)

your actions up to turn is ok.

On the flop , K 87ss , there are a few hands out there.

Sets - K , 8 , 7
2 pairs - K8 , K7 , 78
flush draws - any 2 spades
OESD - 56 , 69 , 9T.
1 pair hands like KX , QQ , JJ , TT , 99 , 22-66
random cards

on the turn a 4 of club drops
if he had an OESD of only 56 , then he would have hit , but beyond that its a brick.

@ the river , you are behind of: Sets - K , 8 , 7 , OESD - 56
you are ahead of : 2pairs , flush draws , OESD - 69 , 9T
1 pair hands

I prefer to c/c for my river OOP as i want pot control , i can induce a bluff from a weaker hand like missed flush/straight draws , limit my losses against hands that beat me as this seems to be a hand with showdown value.

what is your plan if he raises on the turn or river ?

[AceKing]

If he raises on the turn, I'll have to assume that he hit his straight, although I might not see it (since straight draws are not obvious and I tend to miss them). If the bet size is small, i might have to call to see if the river gives me a full boat. If the bet is large, I'll most likely fold. However, I might call an all in bet though, because players holding the nuts tend not to go all in until they reach the river.

I'll act the same if he raises on the river, except that I'd fold to an all-in bet.