Poker, Night number one

Well tonight was my first night of playing poker online using Pokertracker and Gametime+. The program allows me to put specific icons next to player's names based on the data the programs gathers as the hands are recorded. I found 2 tables that had players that were considered weaker so I sat down and began to play. My brother plays poker tons, so I knew I could talk to him after the hands were complete to get some helpful advice. Oh, the tables were .25/.50, 25NL tables.

I played over 300 hands at these two tables, with 2 hands pretty much summing up the night. In one hand, I was dealt AdQd and called a $2 raise from the button. The flop comes 2d, 4d, 8d - A Flush! One guy raised to $5 and he was called by someone else...$$$. I called their bets and watched the next card a Js. That same guy bet $5, and we all called again. The last card was a 7c and he went all in, which put us both all in, of which we both called. In the end I won $62 on that hand alone! My brother tells me later that this was a mistake and he would generally not call that big a raise preflop with AQ cause it is so often dominated and leads to bigger losses than gains. He is probably right.

In the other hand, I had AhTc was in the pot against one other guy. The flop came Ac, 6h, Td. I was excited once again and bet $2. That other guy raised me to $4 so I went all in. He called me and showed me his ThTc...trip 10s. Blegh and there went all the profits I made from the previous hand. My brother tells me later that whenever someone raises the minimum after I raise, it usually means they have a really good hand, likely trips. So If I play like my brother I don't win the first hand, but I don't lose much on the second...its a wash either way.

Anyway, 3 hours of poker (watching and playing) and I'm up $6 overall. Seems like a bit of a waste, but it was fun and at least I did not lose money!