Hello all,

I'm new to posting and forums, not so new to the game. I've been playing poker for several years now and I can confidently say not profitably. I'm really trying to take my game seriously now with school coming to an end, but I feel like that learning curve hast kicked in yet, even though I feel I'm now playing the best game of my life so far. I usually end up losing my stacks in coin flips and I can't see the error of my ways.

I'm starting off with .25/.50 NL online now and I play live for 1/2 at the Casinos.

I love the game and the competition but I know that money is the ultimate goal. I thoroughly enjoy the game and if i had sustained monetary success I know I would enjoy it that much more.

I'm reading a lot of posts on here and learning but what I'm really asking is how do I get a better edge than just putting my chips in with a 50% chance.

A recent example would be:

Stradle (4$)

UTG(calls)

(Stack180$)Hero (A,K off) calls

UTG+2 folds

UTG+3 folds

(stack700+)UTG+4 raises to 20$

utg+5 folds

utg+6 folds

SB folds

BBfolds

Stradle calls 20$

UTG calls 20$

Hero Raises all in for 180

UTG+4 raises all in

Stradle folds

UTGfolds

He showed pocket tens and the AK never connected. My logic here was that I didn't want to get outplayed post flop by the big stack (who could have had the same hand or worse) and the other two were calling stations and so would fold. There was 68$ already in the pot and I felt like I could have taken it down there. ANy ADvice?