A little background, I have recently moved up from the $25 Party games to the $50 Party games. You can see that discussion here: forum/viewforum.php?f=5&topicdays=0&start=50.

Since I have moved up I have played 1200 hands with some poor results. My main problem is that I can't get to showdown; everyone is playing back at me. I know that 1200 hands is not a large enough sample so I am wondering if this is this feeling is because
1) I am playing too tight and need to call people down
2) Since I just moved up I am giving my opponents too much respect.
3) I am just getting unlucky and people are picking up hands when I do

Currently my WtSD is 12% and that is only because in my last session I got tired of folding and called down a bunch of times when I shouldn’t have. Before that it was actually in single digits.

I am negative playing AA, AK, AQ, KK, QQ, TT because every time I end up in hands like these:

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

CO ($193.44)
Button ($23.60)
SB ($41.83)
BB ($82.33)
UTG ($48.50)
UTG+1 ($31.13)
UTG+2 ($45.69)
MP1 ($27.41)
Hero ($58.65)
MP3 ($39.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 3 folds, SB (poster) calls $2.75, 1 fold, UTG+1 folds.

Flop: ($7) , , (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $6, SB raises to $12.

My opponent was a decent player VP$IP 25, W$SD 75, over 50ish hands. I had not seen him do anything out of line.

I could post many more examples but they are all basically like this one. I make a big hand, show strength and a reasonably tight player comes over the top of me. I have been folding, but it means I have to I win 1 big pot a session just to make up for the many medium sized pots that I am folding.

Any suggestions? Anyone else notice this on the move from $25 to $50?

Edit: Just for amusement my 3 largest money winning hands are K7s, KQo, 32o in that order. I realize this is just because of my low sample size but I think it shows how much my money making hands are underperforming.

Edit: Oops this reply was meant for my journal.

A[s] J[s] would raise you here. He's got TPTK and the nut flush draw. You're either going to give him a free card on the Turn or fold right here. An overpair might raise you here, too. Of course, this being Party NL50, any 2 spades might raise you here, too. Never can predict the donks...

Small Blinds defend all the time, even if that means calling another $2.25 for their $.25 blind. Can you put him on J9 here for flopped 2 pair? A set? I'd push all in here. You'll find flush draws chase til the end. Might as well make him pay for it. Make him commit right now instead of giving him a cheap spade on the Turn.

First, I dont think it´s donkish to raise AJ of spades in that situation, specially because he has position and can check the turn for the free river.

I can tell the $50 tables are more aggressive than the $25 tables but I think that is about it. Also you´ll find more good players tha in NL$50 but it s not so many to make the tables bad or not profitable. Just be careful. If you can stay away from them better. Also, if you sit at a table and you can spot at least three decent players (something that is likely to happen) stand up and find a better one.

They are more aggressive and, for example, you´ll be in that situation more often than you were in NL$50 -I am talking about the hand you posted.-

As you said, 1200hands are not much, in fact, they are just a few, so play more and you´ll see there are plenty of fishes and muppets to take money from.

About the hand you posted, I think I would reraise back and, of course, fold if he push. That is very standard, but if he is not a donk he´ll probably fold and you´ll take it right there. I have to admit I hate those hand OOP against a good player. I think it is ok to fold the best hand often in this situation.

I agree with Smokin' Al with regard to focus on PT stats.

Looks to me like you may be playing weak-tight. I don't think you can lay down to a mini-check-raise holding AA. I do think you should be also be looking more closely at the players. Maybe you can lay down to the check-raise if this guy is extremely tight, very selective about calling raises and shows down extremely strong hands when he gets there. I can EASILY see almost any AJ playing that way, though, among "normal" players.

I think I'd just call for the moment and see what's up on the turn. If it's checked and no spade, I'd probably bet myself at half pot plus. If he bets close to pot at me again, I'd have to start thinking more seriously about being setted here.

I really think you're getting a little too scared, though, when they play back at you. If they're making a habit of it, you're presumably laying down a lot of good hands.