TyDonkBet

Thanks for the suggestions all - will keep everyone posted on interesting spots!

I think a bigger bet is better here as well, but if you bet 500 and bb ships for 900, are you really folding there? pot would be 1910 and its 400 to call, so you need ~17.5%EV to make it break even. even if we only have four T outs plus backdoor hearts, that puts us around 20% OTF if button folds and we close action. I think it's a bet/call with those numbers.

i think it depends on stack sizes and opponents. in a vacuum, i just check 22 every time.

Hand 1: sizing is fine pre and on the flop. getting 5.5-1, you only need about 16% to be good here, which i feel you have. cant see bb cold calling $50 with 44/22. I think there could be multiple sdfd, gssfd, or p+fd. as played, how did it run out?

Hand 2: I don't think there is anything wrong with calling the 3b and playing post-flop, unless you don't like to be put to the test of ranging your opponent. If you're going to 4b, I like a 4b to 315. If he ships pre, then I'd throw up in my mouth a little and probably fold. Against a range that will get 450bbs in pre QQ isn't looking too good.

If he calls, I would def have to evaluate flop, but would lead on almost all boards. When we 3b, makes the pot 455, giving him about 2.2-1. I don't see many hands he could have that would call your 4b - except maybe TT and JJ. He'd call with AK, you cant be too scared about overs with QQ. If/when he calls, pot is 666, and he has 585 left. There is never a bet/fold here because of sizing. Id say call>4b though and play out the rest of the hand. not enough info from just one street. how did the hand play out?

bad check on flop, absolutely have to drive home top set. Depending on effective stacks, bet sizing should be enough to drive out gssd+o but small enough to get value from worse hands. I like ~$190.

As played, turn sizing is too small as well. gives bb 3-1 and mp 4-1, which gives them close to correct odds to call with fdsd. was UTG1 the player who shipped OTR?

I don't ever think I would bet 1/3 pot for the aforementioned value hands, just doesn't make sense. If you're trying to represent a strong value bet, then your sizing needs to be close to 70% IMO. Also, barreling vs fish's button limp-calling range doesn't seem to ever end well.

I'd prefer a limp pre, and c/f flop or cbet and c/f turn

I'd look into specific books for the games you're trying to play. If it's tournaments, get into a series, such as J Little's secrets of professional tournament poker. If it's cash games, there are tons of books out there for what you're trying to do.

Ask yourself what you want to do with poker, what games you're going to play, how much time you can spend on it and get to it. Write down a bunch of small goals to start. Watch videos on here, and when something 'blows your head off' then make a thread and let us know what you specifically don't know and hopefully some people can help.

Your question of where to begin is too broad. Where do you want to go?

Thanks for the response. I phrased it poorly; I do well against almost all opponents in cash games, but seem to struggle when I am playing against recreational players in tournaments.

I agree completely though that not over-bluffing and playing tight ABC makes great sense. Hardest part of any tournament for me is the beginning stages and accumulating chips. Later stages come really easy to me, and I excel at them. Just have to avoid some landmines and hopefully get lucky a couple times to get some chips early.