Hitting a set...

Okay here is a problem that happens often to me..

I would get something good like pokcets kings/aces or two pair and someone ends up turning a set on me...whats a good way to detect what is going on?? I probably get trapped the most from sets....especially when I have something like top two pair which is hard to lay down...any suggestions?

I go by the board, but with pocket pairs, you have to feel out how the other player is betting. If they limped in, it might be a trap, or they are trying to see the flop for cheap. If you bet preflop, and they call or raise, then they have something. After the flop, place a bet out there and see what you get. It also helps to have position on them too, cause they may check...trying to trap. If they check on the flop and raise on the turn then you can be pretty sure that they have something. Hope this helps

it is nearly impossible to read that someone is holding a set. Many ppl play them very slow. all i can say is ask the question, bet and see what happens.

This is how you know somebody has a set. Be a genius like Daniel Negreanu.
YouTube - Daniel Negreanu reading on Doyle Brunson (High Stakes Poker)

I have the same problem It is hard for to read when someone has a set. I might have A up and someone is slowplaying a middle set I try to make average bet to feel the water but it is hard feel out the player when he has a set. I have learned not to depend on 2 pair and not to over play the hand.

reading sets is quite hard.
i always get caught in sets
jus dont build the pot too big if u think they got a set

Hitting a set vs an overpair is one of the most profitable plays. I love playing pocket pairs against tight players who raise in early position, because when I hit my set I'm going to get paaaaaaaid off.

When you have a big pocket pair you should be upping it if they limp in. You want to raise *more* if there are several limpers, as you want to chase out the drawers and hopefully get one caller.
So with K/K and two limpers in a $25NL game, my typical opening bet would be $1 but in this case I'd add a bb (big blind) for each player so I'd put in $1.50.

If I open and they call, there's not a lot I can do. Hopefully I have a read on the player. I'm generally not stacking off with just an overpair unless I have some sort of read on the villain, or unless he's a short stack.

read them

the best way to read if a set is out is to put a tester bet out there---if they reraise you can call to see what they do when you tester bet the turn also....this helps to see just how strong they are because they will usually come over the top when they have it, not when theyre bluffing----learning to put someone on a hand is the toughest part of this game but a big part of it to say the least

youu have to put your opponent on hands based on the bets pre flop and position.. and dont overvalue top pair... and just with experience i guess its easier to detect.

fivetwooffsuit said:

This is how you know somebody has a set. Be a genius like Daniel Negreanu.
YouTube - Daniel Negreanu reading on Doyle Brunson (High Stakes Poker)

Click to expand...

Wait. Wait.

If you watched the preceding High Stakes Poker episodes... you'll see Doyle playing pretty tight. I mean, tight compared to the rest of the table. He's not all loosey goosey like Farha is.

So when Doyle limps in... AND calls a re-raise... I mean... he has some sort of something.

I think, in that video, Daniel floats Doyle's continuation bet because, well, Doyle has a tendency to bet the flop. And if Doyle was bluffing, Daniel would be able to pick up on it on the later streets.

Daniel SAID Doyle had three treys, but he wouldn't have called if he was 100% CERTAIN he had three treys.

And, that hand is a good example of how to play your sets. You flop a set, you bet... you will get play from top pair, top kicker. And you will get play from overpairs...

So when you have AA/KK, you can't be afraid to put some chips in the pot before you see the cards. Always raise. And raise a lot. Because you do have the best hand.

Unfortunately, if I have an overpair against trips, I'm going to have to loose SOMETHING.

Let's say I have KsKh. And villain is sitting across from me with JcJs.
Villain raises, and I re-raise him. If he plays back, I'm coming over-the-top, all-in.

But, let's say I re-raise, and villain just calls...
Flop comes
9c-Jh-10c.

I mean, that's a kind of scary flop for my KK. There's a flush draw out there, there's a big straight draw out there... that's a scary flop. And I don't want to give any free cards- because I have a gutshot straight, and I probably have the best hand. Even if I don't, I can still make it with my straight. So I'm going to bet it. Probably about the size of the pot.

If Villain plays his set fast and re-raises, I MIGHT get out of the way, but I probably could not. It would really depend on the player. I might put him on a hand like Q-J, or even A-J. If Villain re-raised, I'd probably just call. I WOULDN'T move all-in unless I really thought he'd call with Ajax. I mean... this is a real tough poker situation. This is a legit hand. And K-Q is a very possible holding.

Let's say I call his re-raise. Fine. On the next street, I'd check unless I improved (with a Queen). And if Villain showed he was itching to play a big pot... I'd have to fold. You have to be able to release your mediocre hands when your opponents are willing to play huge pots.

But I WOULDN'T put villain on a set. I'd put him on a straight.

Let's say villain checked behind me on the turn. Then there's a serious chance he's drawing... and I'd play it like such from there. He could be holding top pair and a straight draw, top pair and a club draw...

Villain's previous plays would be the deciding factor in a hand like this. My brain hurts just from coming up with the hypothetical situation.

Point is... a set is a very sneaky hand.

m1kewat said:

I go by the board, but with pocket pairs, you have to feel out how the other player is betting. If they limped in, it might be a trap, or they are trying to see the flop for cheap. If you bet preflop, and they call or raise, then they have something. After the flop, place a bet out there and see what you get. It also helps to have position on them too, cause they may check...trying to trap. If they check on the flop and raise on the turn then you can be pretty sure that they have something. Hope this helps

Click to expand...

This is very good advice. You have to look for TAG players that limp into a pot and check/raise you. Unless they are a really skilled player there are subtle things people with sets do. like m1kewat mentioned. Other than that just be careful before you jump all in with KK and the board reads 7 2 5.

koadyawn said:

Okay here is a problem that happens often to me..

I would get something good like pokcets kings/aces or two pair and someone ends up turning a set on me...whats a good way to detect what is going on?? I probably get trapped the most from sets....especially when I have something like top two pair which is hard to lay down...any suggestions?

Click to expand...

A lot is going to depend on you and the player that your up against, if the person is aggressive and loose then your probably going to pay him off, if the player is tight, then you might be able to get away from the hand; it just depends on how they play there strong hands.

A few things./

How tight he is PF, i.e a Vpip of 16/8 and he probably limps with alot of small pp's to set mine and especially look out for this in early position.

Also look at the Stack to pot ratio value of your hand. Ed miller in his book suggests a SPR for KK or AA of 6 vs normal players. So you want to look for 6x the value of the flop size with aces and kings. So if the flop is $1 and you have $4behind...your have a SPR of 4 and therefore, you can stack with those hands. If you run into a set its just bad luck. Do a search for SPR on here. Very interesting.

I have to question this though. Hard for me to question Ed Miller haah. I've been using it in the last few weeks. And i find that if bet the flop with AA or KK and get re-raised they usually have a big hand. Therefore, it's probably profitable that i fold(unless they're really spewy). Like 2nite i got re-raised 3times with Aces and kings and had a SPR of under 4, shoved and ran into sets. So i'll probably fold without a read from now on. Usually when a guy is raising you have to give them credit for a big hand.

Also make notes on the villians stacking range. This is the most valuable piece of information i.e stack TPTK. Therefore, you can stack more confidently with OP's on the flop.

Good luck.

I would say playing micro stakes you should try to get your money in almost always with two pair, exceptions for 4 to a flush/straight, so nothing wrong with that.

To answer your question, if someone is playing pretty hard/tricky after flating a raise or limp/calling preflop on a very dry board, say K 8 2 rainbow, a set is very much in the range. Also like everyone said how they play is very important. If they are calling stations(ie will call you all the way with KT or A8) then giving them your money is the right play with AK or 2 pair. If they are tight, straight forward players then it may be possible to get out of that Ak hand or at least slowing down a lot.

very hard to read sets

When the flop or flop plus turn doesn't indicate a made hand, yet a player is all in or betting heavy, sounds like a set to me, or a high pair. If you watch the player, and have determined he is passive-aggressive, watch out. Make educated guesses to improve your odds. Over the long run, some of your best plays are lay downs.