Playing 6 max to reduce variance

I played some 25NL 6 max yesterday to reduce the variance I was experiencing at full ring... not actually, but I just needed to play something else yesterday instead of getting back on that full ring bicycle. Play was surprisingly bad and I finished up 6 buyins.

Some interesting hands:

Hand #1 is just hilarious in my opinion. The funny thing is that this only has to work a very small % of the time for it to be much more +EV than a normal sized raise.

Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $36.60
SB: $32.15
Hero (BB): $26.00
UTG: $25.00
MP: $9.65
CO: $22.15

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with J Q
4 folds, SB calls $0.15, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.50) A 4 3 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.50) T (2 players)
SB bets $0.25, Hero calls $0.25

River: ($1.00) K (2 players)
SB bets $0.25, Hero raises to $25.50 all in, SB calls $25.25

Final Pot: $52.00
SB mucks A 7
Hero shows J Q (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Hero wins $49.45
(Rake: $2.55)

Hand #2 I actually thought I had 99 here, I had 99 on the table stacked below it and I thought I had a set until the turn. A bit risky not raising the flop or turn here, but I fold out everything I beat if I do. Only hands I'm worried about are 55 and QJ and that's too narrow to fold. He was a bit aggro so I thought he might keep betting if I just called.

Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $22.55
MP: $25.60
CO: $29.15
Hero (BTN): $28.70
SB: $33.15
BB: $7.35

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with T 9
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 2 folds, UTG calls $1

Flop: ($2.85) 5 T 9 (2 players)
UTG bets $2, Hero calls $2

Turn: ($6.85) 8 (2 players)
UTG bets $4.25, Hero calls $4.25

River: ($15.35) 3 (2 players)
UTG bets $15.05 all in, Hero calls $15.05

Final Pot: $45.45
UTG shows Q 9 (a pair of Nines)
Hero shows T 9 (two pair, Tens and Nines)
Hero wins $43.25
(Rake: $2.20)

Hand #3 is also kind of lol. This station is calling me down until the river when he improves to 3 pairs no kicker and I improve to 2 pair Q kicker. Then he decides to bet.

Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $16.00
SB: $22.70
Hero (BB): $39.70
UTG: $11.65
MP: $21.40
CO: $15.90

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with Q A
UTG calls $0.25, MP calls $0.25, 2 folds, SB calls $0.15, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, MP calls $1.75, 1 fold

Flop: ($4.50) T 2 A (2 players)
Hero bets $3, MP calls $3

Turn: ($10.50) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $6.50, MP calls $6.50

River: ($23.50) 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $9.90 all in, Hero calls $9.90

Final Pot: $43.30
Hero shows Q A (two pair, Aces and Fives - Queen kicker)
MP shows 2 A (two pair, Aces and Fives)
Hero wins $41.20
(Rake: $2.10)

Hand #4 My initial read was that he's got at least top pair here. I put him on AT+/JJ/KJ. I thought he might fold out the worst of those hands if I bet the turn but that they would probably be worth a river c/c. I obviously take JJ out of the range on the turn. I think my line is really weird and bluffy by checking back the turn and making the slight overbet on the river. I'm finding that against thinking opponents, if I make my bet something like $7.75 or $8.50 they must think I'm looking for a call by making the bet look smaller - kind of like how my McGriddles are $2.99 instead of $3. Conversely the big round $10 in 2x $5 chips looks like I want him to fold. I don't know if this is true, just an idea, he took a lot of time before making the call.

Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $49.95
Hero (CO): $30.60
BTN: $25.00
SB: $46.80
BB: $26.10

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with A K
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, BTN calls $1, SB calls $0.90, 1 fold

Flop: ($3.25) A J K (3 players)
SB bets $3, Hero calls $3, BTN folds

Turn: ($9.25) K (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($9.25) 9 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $10, SB calls $10

Final Pot: $29.25
Hero shows A K (a full house, Kings full of Aces)
SB mucks J A
Hero wins $27.85
(Rake: $1.40)

I might go back to the full ring grind today, but I think I'll try to mix in some more 6 max into my game. They are just awful and it is really helping me work on my positional game and hand reading.