$2 NLHE Full Ring: Playing Sets

Lately I've been struggling with playing sets. I know I probably played this hand horribly. Please can I have some advice on how to play it better?

Thanks!

poker stars, $0.01/$0.02 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $2.01 (100.5 bb)
SB: $0.86 (43 bb)
BB: $1.94 (97 bb)
UTG+1: $4.40 (220 bb)
UTG+2: $2 (100 bb)
MP1: $2.41 (120.5 bb)
MP2: $1 (50 bb)
MP3: $0.96 (48 bb)
CO: $1.50 (75 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with 9 9
UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 raises to $0.08, 4 folds, Hero calls $0.08, SB calls $0.07, BB folds

Flop: ($0.26) 9 J 5 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+2 bets $0.14, Hero calls $0.14, SB calls $0.14

Turn: ($0.68) K (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $0.49, SB calls $0.49, UTG+2 folds

River: ($1.66) 7 (2 players)
SB bets $0.15 and is all-in,

Lawrelye, I dont think you played this that bad. I might raise instead of calling the flop as there at two players however the board texture is not that bad. I mean there are a few straight draws but MP+2 could easily have like TPGK and would still give action.

Turn - K completes one straight draw which is possible that SB could have QT as it would give him an OESD on flop but I would definitely focus on his stack size for bet sizing. I might bet something closer to half pot though as I think you want SB to continue to call a draw or any pair. When MP+2 checks after only betting about 1/2 pot on flop you can assume hes not that strong so your set has him crushed. However, I can see SB flatting QT in SB as well.

River - Doesn't really matter what card hits the board as youre not going to fold to a 0.15 bet into a pot of ~1.66. However, 7 also completes 86 but stats would help determine if SB would play hand like this. I doubt he would have a over pair like JJ/KK as he flatted pre into two other players so I think you can rule out any larger sets.

WP in my opinion. You got it in by river with a hand that I think more often than not has the SB crushed... Thats just my thoughts though.

Raise the flop for value. He's early position so there's a lot of hands that he's continuing here with. Calling there is bad because it makes it harder to play for stacks when you have a monster and he has good reason to believe he has the best hand. Plus SB might come along for the ride as well. That makes it easier to just shove the turn regardless of what card comes up.

Played fine on all streets IMO. NH.

Thanks guys for your insights.

I called the flop rather than raising as there were still 2 players and I thought I was ahead. When K came on the turn I was a little worried but more about UTG+2 than SB as SB was short stacked and just flatted behind PF. When SB called my 3/4 bet on the turn I put him on AK/KQ etc so thought I was still good.

Anyway, I thought there was a chance he had QT but was willing to call his 15c raise. Sadly (for me) he had it! Made me wonder where my mistake was. Should I have put him on QT by his actions? I assumed wrongly that he would only have called with stronger hole cards. And would raising the flop have put him off his hand?

Can anyone also advise what I should change if anything if the effective stacks were 100BB?

Thanks again.

Yeah I think you can definitely add QT to his range though his flat preflop and on the flop. But I still think you crush his range has he could have also had like 55, A9, AJ, KJ+. Sucks that he got there but just be happy he didnt have auto-reload.

I honestly dont know if I would get away from a set here if stacks are 100BB deep still. Im a 2NL player and a lot of time people are going to GII with TPGK or even two pair. However, there is more of an argument for a fold on the river if he ships it.

Thanks pocketehs. Yes, that makes a lot of sense.

If you were heads up with SB and his short stack, calling the flop would be fine. With UTG+2 still in the hand with a deeper stack, I agree raising for value is best. Going to make it easier to get his whole stack that way.

pocketehs said:

However, there is more of an argument for a fold on the river if he ships it.

Click to expand...

Well you can't ever fold the river for $0.15 more obviously. Even if he were deeper, I don't think you can ever fold this river without some crazy read. You're ahead so often here, I'm calling every time.