Hi, I took a little break to play some SnGs, but realized that my win rate in $25-$50 NL is far greater than $11-$22 SnGs. Here are two hands from yesterday.

Both are at a NL $25 Party Table and both are my first hand at the table.

I am dealt in the BB and there are 2 limpers plus the SB.

Flop

I lead out for $2 and I'm called by a MP Player who started off with a stack of $26-$28. He has me barely covered. The pot is about $6.

The turn is a and I bet $5. He calls leaving himself with $18 left.

The river is a , with the flush draw missing. I try a blocking bet of $5 and he re-raises me all in for $13 more. I folded. It seemed like he was waiting to raise me the entire hand. I had no read. He could easily have had 55 or A10. After observing him, I think I made the right decision. He didn't seem to be playing too loose.

Hand 2.

Different table $25 NL table. I have $25 in BB and button has me barely covered ($27)
I am dealt . One mp players and the button min raises. I call and mp calls.
Flop is . I lead out for $2.50, MP calls, and the button min raises again. I call and MP folds.
Turn: I lead out for $5, Button re-raises to $15 and I go all in for $1-$2 more.
He calls. I was thinking he might have had 1010, but the river was a rag and he had
for the nuts.

Hand #1:
Think you played it fine but your blocking bet on the river really is just inticing a raise. If you check instead (a play I do often) The pot is smaller...and a value bet is more likely, which you can call. At least that is what happens on prima..they have no balls there. Haven't played Party in a while so...

Hand #2
Beware of that min. raise on the flop...I would be along your lines of thinking...A set or an overpair. QJ possiblily....but I would have lost my stack same as you.

Hand #1....what you did is not a blocking bet. A blocking bet is a small bet lead into another player who has been doing the betting. Its used to try to get a confuse him into just calling when he wouldve made a larger bet so you can try to get a cheaper showdown.

You made a weak lead which begs for a raise. Sometimes you'll get raised off the best hand because it shows weakness. If you dont like your hand, check...and then decide if you want to call.

I don't like your bet in hand 2. You have a nice draw but no made hand, and assuming you get called by at least one player and don't improve on the turn you are in a tough position where you most likely have to check and face a big bet. Check and see what the PF raiser does. Drawing out of position is tough but I wouldn't try to pick this spot to get too aggressive.