I find it difficult to read a set.

I can't even count how many times I've been played so well by a set. I'll get my aces, two-pairs, TPTK broken by flopped sets all the time. I just can't seem to figure out how to read them.

For example, this hand just happened to me recently. UTG calls BB, everyone folds to me (dealer) holding KcJs. I raise 4x BB. I don't have a HUD so I don't have any stats on UTG. He calls, so I immediately sense something going on. This was a freeroll, so I'm thinking, if he has aces he would've bet strongly, probably more than the standard 3-4x BB as many donks seem to do.

Flop comes JhKsTs. Perfect, I've got 2-pair. If he does have aces or AK/AJ then I got him beat on the flop. The only thing I can't beat at this point is KK, TT, JJ, or AQ. UTG checks and I raise the value of the pot. He calls.

Turn comes as 3c. UTG checks. Now I'm thinking maybe he had a flush or straight draw and another bullet will make him fold so I fire another pot-sized one. I wasn't putting him on a set anymore because...I don't know. I forget that people can have sets. UTG calls and the turn is 4s. UTG goes all in.

I got him covered as I had about double his initial stack. I didn't believe he had a straight with AQ, because he limped. Q9 is a bit too loose especially UTG so I didn't think it was that. I firmly believed he didn't have a flush because he didn't seem too fishy to me. So I'm thinking maybe he was slowplaying aces or AK after all. I called, and UTG flips over two tens.

This scenario has happened to me more than a handful of times and somehow I keep missing it. Guy in early position limps, calls a raise, and slowplays a set while I have 2-pair or TPTK. I play in the micros if that's something to consider. I'm just wondering...how am I missing all these sets and what can I do to plug this leak.

You can seldom be completely sure, but can often get a better feel by thinking it through.

The guy limps then calls your raise pre-. What's his likely range? Note the word "likely" as well as the fact he just called.

He then check-calls a pot-sized bet on a very wet board. What's his likely range now? Again, note that he didn't check-raise.

The turn looks like a blank, and it seems like he check-calls another pot-sized bet. Same question again - what's his likely range now?

The turn completes the possible flush, and he shoves (for how much?) What's his likely range now, how much of it do you beat, and are the pot odds sufficient to warrant calling even if you're probably behind?

^^ as above.

Keep in mind too, 1) what you know about the player even if you don't have a HUD; has he played a lot of hands, what has he called down with before, ect. and 2) the general level of play. Given that you're talking freerolls and assuming it's not a private one like the CC ones, that affects your answers to the questions that Arjon asks above.

How much was the call at the end? You went 4x and then pot which must be 8-9x, so you have 13 BB in there right? I'm guessing that makes this all in a substantial call, and given the board I would probably fold. It depends on how far into the freeroll you were and anything you know about the guy of course, but based on stack sizes I'm guessing this has to be a fold.

I don't know how to avoid sets. I keep getting underset lately which is really frustrating. I guess a HUD helps and you just got to watch the people to see how good they play. When a tight player suddenly wants to go ai, he might have a set.

Rule #1 - attempting to get reads when playing a freeroll is going to lead to migraines.

He could have ANY hand there, literally. The majority of players treat freerolls like play money and any pair or any draw, regardless of how unlikely, is possible. Trying to narrow a player like this down in a freeroll and put him on a set (specifically) is like cat herding ... you ain't gonna do it.

Yeah, you guys are probably right about the freeroll part. I've recently gotten a HUD free trial, so now I'm working out what all these stats mean.

Thanks a lot!

Even if this was not a free roll I'm always alert to the checker who calls any bet you make, even if it is the BB. This board is a killer with all the flush and st8 possibilities.

I used to get caught by trips a lot more than I do today. The check/call player is the one who sets off an alarm bell "TRIPS". Good Luck.

GOIVIT said:

I used to get caught by trips a lot more than I do today. The check/call player is the one who sets off an alarm bell "TRIPS". Good Luck.

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Not to beat the proverbial dead horse and dredge up another poker lexicon nitpick, but do yourself a favor and stop using the terms sets and trips interchangeably. A paired board will often completely change the way you play out a hand and put you on notice. Whereas sets by definition are concealed and a lot harder to read and play against. Don't let the fact that they share the same hand ranking hide the fact that their strength and equity in the hand (and thus your strategy) are pretty significantly different. If you make trips while he has a set, he now has a boat and has you crushed.

It may seem like a nitpick when people are just talking hands and using both terms, but if you get in the habit of treating them as entirely different hands and talking about them as such, it will only help you at the table. Plus it will make HA a lot clearer.

In my upper post, when I said "trips" I meant "a set". Sorry about that.

I think I'm catching them better now. For example, someone limping in early and calling a late position re-raise raises some alarms. If early checks the flop and calls a c-bet makes me suspicious. A paired board makes me suspicious of a fullhouse as well, and I've been more wary of fullhouses when I have trips.

I find that in micro cash and tournaments, the good players sometimes try to catch you out by min. donk betting, because they may have you down as quite aggressive and perceive this bet as weak play. In freerolls, unless its like a VIP 2+ freeroll, I'd ignore trying to make reads as mentioned above.

You never really know. One thing you shouldn't do is start folding way too often. You don't want to be folding your aces every time you get dealt a paired flop, for example.

dmorris68 said:

Not to beat the proverbial dead horse and dredge up another poker lexicon nitpick, but do yourself a favor and stop using the terms sets and trips interchangeably.

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LOL - also a pet peeve of mine

wozzinator said:

I think I'm catching them better now. For example, someone limping in early and calling a late position re-raise raises some alarms. If early checks the flop and calls a c-bet makes me suspicious. A paired board makes me suspicious of a fullhouse as well, and I've been more wary of fullhouses when I have trips.

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Good job - yeah be aware that if they have a middle or lower pocket pair they are wanting to see the flop as cheap as possible - hoping they hit a set (because they know a lot of flops will destroy their mediocre PP so they don't wan to escalate betting preflop). Now the weird thing is most of them, especially in a freeroll, will not have the discipline to fold like 44 preflop if they are raised. They just have to see that flop. So when that happens you can certainly make note that they are either chasing something (a set or they have suited connectors looking for a straight/flush draw) - or they could be slow playing a monster (AA).

Keep your guard up.