Playing against a flopped set??

One hand that opponents have that i am finding difficult to read, therefore play against is when an opponent flops a set and slow plays it. I find it gets me into trouble especially when i flop top pair cause i'll usually be betting into them, then get raised on the river....is there much you can do against this play??

Very good question, and i didn't realize this untill you asked it. I understand your delima, and would like to know what others think. I'm not sure how to play this or read my oponents bets to see that they hit their set...

Just treat top pair + good kicker as winner (unless of course there is obvious flush / straight possibility) and curse when opponent flips over set. I dont think there's any defense against them either!

ok....i'll just abuse them for beating me from now on lol sounds good! Thanks!

That's one of the beauties of flopping a set. Most of the time, players don't see it coming. However, when they are three of the same suit on the flop it becomes scary because now there is a flush possibility. When you are playing against a player with a flopped set you really don't know it. I think that's why a lot of players play pocket pairs no matter how high (or low) it is. Even when they make a big raise after the flop and you're holding top pair, chances are you are going to call. There really isn't much you can do besides pray that the cards you need come up.

The only thing you can do is ask yourself, "what is he calling me down with?" Whenever i'm the aggressor and i'm betting into the pot and I get a call, I run down the list and try to put my opponent on a hand. Never underestimate your opponent because the biggest fish in the world is going to catch monsters every now and then. Don't be afraid to fold. There's an old saying, "somtimes the best player lays down the best hand."

Its too weak/tight to play top pair, top kicker with any real caution when there isn't a straight or flush possibility on the board. You have to bet it strong. When you get jammed back into after raises or check-raised on the flop or turn, you have to consider the possibility of your opponent making his set. Ask yourself if his pre-flop play was consistant with him having had a pair in the hole? How has he played his pairs in previous hands? If it begins to look like you're beat, don't be afraid to muck top pair, top kicker and save yourself some money. When you can get away from made hands like TPTK, bottom two-pair, and middle or bottom set when the conditions dictate you will be well on your way to vastly improving your game. The difference between a decent player and a very proffitable one are among other things, the bets saved at times just like this.

first of all is this nl or limit, if its limit just pay off the set. When playin NL, I feel that betting meduim amounts instead of very large amounts is the best way to play, unless you put a big raise preflop, even then just betting the origional raise is what i would do (maybe a little more).

One last piece of advice from me- should you be playing and the other person you are playing just sits there and calls, once fifth street hits and they raise-
You are beat (espicially if you only have one pair). Just lay it down and hope it comes in next time.

I LOVE this question - For when I first started NL - it was my biggest problem - "reading" - esp. an experienced player slow playing a set... but as someone mentioned, aggressive betting - or "what's he calling me down with?" I can usually place them on a set before too much damage is done...:stickyman

I was in Vegas 2 weeks ago talking with a buddy of mine talking about just this - I had flopped top 2 pair - AQ's - and gave a healthy raise in a $330 ring game... It got re-raised - THE ONLY HAND THAT CAN BEAT ME (or is ahead at that time) - is a set - (or a crazy chase draw) which would induce a "call" not a re-raise....

Now - Do I "fish" for the boat, and SINK his set? Or does he have a "piece" of MY 2 pair - therefore reducing my odds drastically? -

You should have seen this guys face as I laid down the A/Q showing - He then turned AA - I was toast no matter what came.... Great lay down (not meaning to pat self on back - but - It was a proper read) -

Point is - You can't "see" that online - and trips (esp. ones that turn into a boat) are trouble -

If you're playing with "serious" Players - and someone comes over the top - It's USUALLY for a good reason - Esp. if you've already put in a healthy raise...

Just my .02 cents - but I think trips are the hardest hand to read - and has taken me several years to place someone on them... (yet still get stung at times!)

Cheers!

Well when a good player flops a set you will know it real fast especially if he thinks you have a strong hand cause he will be betting it fast and hard trying to get your money in the pot asap. Passive players and maniacs are a whole different story! 2 things that will save you are don't go broke in a small pot and realize your opponent doesn't appear the least bit scared of the hand you are representing. I wouldn't let paying off a set bother you all that much right now, even the best most experienced players in the world pay sets off simply because it is usually the last hand that pops in your head and are easily played deceptively. Don't have to be a ringer to make money with a monster and sets are monsters.

i agree it is hard to tell

My biggest problem at this point with poker is reading the other players hand.
Having said this i can get a fair idea of maybe what they are playing unless it is a set.

I love having one because no one sees it. Well the people i have played against anyway.

Although a re raise after a big raise makes alarm bells ring for me at times because that is usually what happens when an opponent has a set.

Like i said that is what seems to happen when i have played.

Good luck 2 all and may the royal flush be with you.

pat

If they are those passive, calling station types, or those that want to put a big fat raise at the end.

Well, if you have position on them, bet big, about 1/2-1 of the the size of the pot with your top pair good kicker. then when they check the turn, bet smaller - to supposedly try to milk them. Then, most importantly check the river after them. Since, they may assume you to continue your betting pattern.

The problem if you check the turn, is that most likely they will bet the river, and you can't get a cheap showdown otherwise. At least by showing strength and betting along the way, the opponent may give you another chance to bet the river again, which you shouldn't with top pair.

Sets can be slowplayed, check/reraise, or flat out lead out with them. It is the hardest hand to get a read on because there are so many ways to try and get paid off.

I think you just pay them off, then get rewarded when you do it back to them later. It is a come and go thing. You just hope you get more than you play against.

Sets are just one of those things that come up and smack you in the head every now and again. Last night I had pocket 9's, the flop came 4 A 9 with one guy betting out strong. Ended up heads up and I put the guy on a pair of A's or possibly two pair. Needless to say it went to an all-in and he turned over the pocket pair of A's!!! That was me done and dusted. You just have to take it on the chin and smile. B*-*-*D! ;o)

post hands rather than a general question...its much easier to give replies then

I'm by no means an expert but there are few things I learned over time. Average winning hand in hold'em is 2pair. Checking is free. Folding saves money. And if you have one pair on the river and get raised. Just let it go. Internet players (and rookies) especially thing hold'em is all about "Great Calls". It isn't. It's about folding. This is especially true for MTTs. Cash games is a different animal, entirely. But don't be afraid to fold a hand. It'll give you respect later if you need a steal or if you got TT vs JJ and you want to represent AA -- thinking his JJ is AK. After awhile people lay AQs and 99 to you. And then you can get more creative. Folding is the difference between the 15% that make money and the 85% that don't.

why bump a thread from 2 years ago?