$20 NLHE Full Ring: top set in 3bet pot

$20 NL HE Full Ring: top set in 3bet pot

I feel kind of silly asking how to play set of aces but I guess that's what HA is for right. Villain is pretty unknown but doesn't seem like a total nit.

Question is how do we best play it on flop ?
I mean we kinda have the deck crippled here right ?

What can he have that is giving us action ?
Will KK call on an A flop after calling a 3bet. I don't think so. And besides he would probably shove kings pre. I don't see QQ calling this flop. So what is our move, and later on turn, river.. ?
Hero (SB): $26 (104 bb)
BB: $25 (100 bb)
UTG: $4.75 (19 bb)
UTG+1: $20.95 (83.8 bb)
MP1: $21.30 (85.2 bb)
MP2: $32.90 (131.6 bb)
MP3: $19.65 (78.6 bb)
CO: $23.40 (93.6 bb)
BTN: $43.80 (175.2 bb)

Pre-Flop: Hero is SB with A:club: A:diamond:
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $0.50, 4 folds, BTN calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2.50, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $2, BTN folds

Flop: ($5.75) A:heart: 5:heart: 9:spade: (2 players)
Hero ???

Bet your hand fish.

If you check, what are you hoping your opponent will make that will allow you to extract value? Will they pay to draw to it?

c9h13no3 said:

Bet your hand fish.

If you check, what are you hoping your opponent will make that will allow you to extract value? Will they pay to draw to it?

Click to expand...

Could he not think his KK/QQ are good after we c/c flop ?

eNTy said:

Could he not think his KK/QQ are good after we c/c flop ?

Click to expand...

maybe but in 3bet pots villains most often asume that you half atlest one ace in your hand and 3bet/checking flop allways looks way fishy.

Villain expects you to c-bet. Don't dissapoint him. Often people will float KK for one street anyways.

OK, thanks.

I think that about covers it.

Fwiw I checked flop, bet turn, he called, all in on river, he called, he showed AQ.

i think checking here is actually okay. you have the deck pretty crippled, only one A left. if he has 55 or 99 you're going to stack him pretty much regardless. and the result shows that even when he has an A you can still stack him or nearly stack him often whether you check flop or bet. there aren't really that many disadvantages

the main advantage is inducing bluffs and letting him catch sets with his pocket pairs. yeah, he's only a small % to hit it, but when he does you win a whole stack as opposed to usually winning 0 more when you bet, so there's significant enough $ in it.

fwiw it also balances for when you check KK/QQ (not that balance is a huge concern at the micros, but he'll definitely be quick to put you on those types of hands). that would be a greater consideration for me at 100NL+ though