What is the best way to play Top Set when your First To Act

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JamesMoroski

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Hey Everyone i would like feedback on your opinions for when you flop top set and are first or second to act. I believe Leading Out is the best way to play it as NO ONE will put you on a set and the two biggest pots I have ever won were from leading out with top set. Let me know your opinions on this play and how you think it should be played.

I want to hear what other players feel is the best way to play top set UTG or EP in a cash game or tourney. Looking forward to your opinions.
 
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PCK

PCK

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If you`re the initial raiser,you continue with bet on the flop (cbet),if you`re in a 3bet pot,i check the flop
 
horizon12

horizon12

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check/rasie when wet board , check/call when dry board....
 
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hffjd2000

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Your action would depend on many factors like table dynamics, villain/villains at hand, number of opponents, stacks, etc.
 
horizon12

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Your action would depend on many factors like table dynamics, villain/villains at hand, number of opponents, stacks, etc.


This answer is suitable to all questions what belongs to poker :D
 
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mrmochapb

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depending on the flop if its a flop that people might draw on i there are 2 or more other i would put out a nice bet
 
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mrmochapb

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i forgot to mention that it also depends what you do preflop if u have a pair of say 88 and u put in a small raise in position and get calls, a continuation bet wouldnt be out of the question
 
Carl Trooper

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If its a SUPER dry board and you have KK on a K92 rainbow board, I will usually give a free card.

But honestly, theres no set and stone answer.

What happens if you have KK on that K92 board and you elect to check. Someone has 9-2 and also checks behind hoping the other player will make a stab. He also checks. Now the turn is a K. The guy with 9-2 was counterfeited and you won't make any $ had you bet on the flop.

But for what its worth, I bet my sets 40-50%, 20-30% check raise and 20-30% check/call.
 
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Sheehan11

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Depends if it was a high-set or low set...let's say I have 22. Flop A J 2. I'd make a small initial bet, 2xBB making it seem I have piece of A/J or going for somewhat of a straight. I personally, don't like checking with a board like this because the people digging for draws get an opportunity for a free check and may hit. From my Pov...if they have an AX or a JX or a legit draw, they'd probs call. If turn is wet, continue betting as if have the top pair. If dry, check. Then...see what happens.
Same 22: Flop 2 8 Q. I'd check call...and if turn dead...slightly over-bet the board...2.5BB attempting to steal pot. If they hit, they'd probs re-raise reading you trying to steal, or fold if they got nudda. Then, go with my gut and read from what the play may have in their hand.
 
Landopope

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For me it depends on the villain and how many people are in the pot. If I have an aggressive opponent behind me or 2 people then I will check raise as long as its a dry board. I play cash and if a fish is behind me then I will lead out.
 
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jj20002

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depend on the set,

set of aces is almost a check because it´s very unlikely the villain has the remaining A, and if he does the villain will for sure make a bet, but if he doesnt have the ace he will fold any bet because the ace on the board,
 
LinkornU

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As for me I usually don't bet after the flop. I will only bet if the flop is dangerous and I don't want my opponent hit some draw. In this situation I really want a villain hit something like two pair so he won't fold.
 
thetick33

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not enough information you got to mix things up are you playing against freerollers at a final table tight players aggressive players etc.. is a str8 or flush showing do you have chasers etc.. so is not that simple imho

all of that matters honestly on how you play and one key is you got to mix things up with better players or you just dont get paid for the big hands in my experience.

If im on a rush i bet and bet and bet lol it makes people think etc.. if card dead am probably checking hoping a bet come over top I do some half betting so pot is 1300 say i hit a set of sixes rainbow flop of king 6 2 say as example I check here hoping a guy has a king four or something im playing freerolls so is a lot of guys calling weaker hands and play them too strong lol.

So situation does matter playing against your opponents does matter. Some things sometimes work others do not. I slow play a lot of pockets even aa and kk lately. Depending for sure if do not have position.

So I limped in to come out strong will probably not get me anything usually have 3-4 people in pot want them in is usually a guy that bets whatever board hits others call I make a double raise so say he bets blind of 200? 3 callers I raise to 400 hoping he all ins which generally happens and unless is chasers the others fold:)

I trap or try to honestly if im less aggressive in poker till get to final tables for some reason this works usually most of the time better for me overall.

I push luck? Higher set hits and lose haha it does happen more than am comfortable with haha. Or runner runner hits a ton when guy should have folded not raised or still be in pot:)
 
atlantafalcons0

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I already know the answer to this. But I want to hear what other players feel is the best way to play top set UTG or EP in a cash game or tourney. Looking forward to your opinions.

This is a vague question because the action you should take mostly depends on the players involved in the hand and the board.

What kind of board am I looking at when deciding what move to make?

What are the tendencies of the other players involved in the hand?

How much money do we have in relation to the big blind?

What's the pot size?

etc
 
Sil3ntness

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Depends on the board/player/ etc. Too many variables.

Generally though, if it's a dry board you want to extract maximum value out of your set. For example: If I raise OOP, and someone 3 bets IP-> I flat call my low pocket pair. When I flop a set, I don't usually donk bet I just check call on a dry board. Then depending on the turn card I would usually donk bet or check/call/raise depending on the player & situation. Hopefully by the river I can double up. :D

Again it depends on how loose/tight the villain is post flop & their hand.
 
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carsguitars777

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yes you are either going to bet out, with a bet you think your opponents are going to call, or your going to check, raise if you think you can pull more from your opponents this way, as I am always raising, I normaly stay consistant and do exactly as you are doing. just dont play the hand much different from how you normaly would put in a raise, as you dont want to lead on to what you have.
 
thetick33

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Hey Everyone i would like feedback on your opinions for when you flop top set and are first or second to act. I believe Leading Out is the best way to play it as NO ONE will put you on a set and the two biggest pots I have ever won were from leading out with top set. Let me know your opinions on this play and how you think it should be played.

not enough information and too many variables

First if your a really good player you mix up your play. If you are like me in a game you mess with the other players etc.. you show some hands some nutts a bluff etc.. so that is variables. You play cash I know this now. Does the table know you. How much was preflop bets raises etc..
Need a lot more information but my advice is to mix up plays.

I tricked a guy today so badly he put notes on me said it out loud and used it to steal his chip stack and wind up with 7-1 chip lead at the time I did a dumb move on purpose and showed lol he had a 5-1 chip lead on me.

I can be a jerk at times try not to be but I said when took chip lead after a few more pots that he called me down maybe you should revise or rethink those notes.

To his great credit I wasnt able to tilt him and was trying hard.

I need more information what type of a player have established myself at for that session or is same group always play etc..

If live know no one I absolutely bet lead out raise etc.. at every opportunity the old people in tampa just call down everything lol.

So for that clarification YES lead out. Yet I change betting patterns all the time mix it up.

Constantly to keep people guessing the amounts how slow fast I act etc..

I love live more will make hands shake lol ask dumb questions is kinda funny try to do that stuff the stupid things online also but live is easier.

P.S. If I am catching some cards or not and have position or not if fear others have hand I bet an amount I change these amounts but honestly can play same group daily and they will call down my sets cause of how unpredictable I try to be.

I see some advice above saying do same things all the time I don't play that style.

Yet more often than not scenario is in blind i have pocket sixes or six five suited say flop is 610 queen rainbow. Was a bet raise and maybe reraise to get to flop say. I do play lower pockets to trap and try to get in as cheap as possible sometimes play aa or jj the same. Mix it up but am wasting your ears or everyones lol.

in blind if thought X was playing aq with that flop? I bet with the six five or the six six but make a different bet lower or higher depending image to make them hopefully just call a little on edge unsure.

I have full belief they will call me down in long run but my defensive instinct in me is always if bet they have to think a bit.

If they go over top and have the 66 im gold:) If they know my style and are like what does he have this time they might just call and my six five might wind up beating them.

To me if you have them guessing all the time you are at your best and is deepest compliment I ever get from players when they are tell me they have no clue or I surprise them etc..

You want to surprise with the sets them to say wow never saw that one coming lol.

So sorry is so long just trying to help a little hope it does. I dont play hands the same in any day etc. i dont bet the same. Is too easy for the really good players to figure you out and then you have big losses.

I am less worried on big wins then big losses so I am a trapper a defensive type of player. Even in tourneys just let me work way up slowly. Big wins are great but come with high risk. Maybe they have a set of queens to your set in my scenario.

So am looking to get all in but want a full board want to be sure by their reaction my set is actually good etc.. The variables how do they play will they slow play set of queens and let me cut own throat.

Happened today with aces guy played it very very well. I was only playing for pennies but he took 4.84 from me. Cause of set on set. He slow played me till shoved. Sucked so hate the losses more than love those big wins. He actually really outplayed me I bet he raised another raised we both call flop we both hit our sets I bet he raised other guy folds I reraise he calls. River blank bet he reraised I should have just called got greedy shoved another couple bucks instant call he had changed his times totally fooled me.

Steady wins works best for me.

The above is one situation where would have loved to see them. Might have gotten a better read.
 
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hffjd2000

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It depends on many factors like number of opponents at hand, table dynamics, individual tendencies, etc.

You have to ask yourself: If I bet, will someone call? or if I check, will someone bet?
 
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oooo

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It depends on many factors like number of opponents at hand, table dynamics, individual tendencies, etc.

You have to ask yourself: If I bet, will someone call? or if I check, will someone bet?

Best answer right here. ^
Also never forget that sometimes people may be calling flush draws and if they hit it, it's going to sting.
 
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matiusaa

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Depends on the board texture. If it is a coordinates board you have to bet. If you flop top set on a super dry board you can slowplay and play check raise
 
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kozikpro

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lol u must make a profit wait bet call its always need to be patience on thats boards
 
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YouPay4MyCrack

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It really depends on how you've been playing, play it like you've been playing your crap but don't fold.
 
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TetraMinbet

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Depending on the board(rainbow unconnected rags preferably)and how other players behave. If there's a draw I might AI or megaraise to push out the chasers. If it's a dry board maybe I'll value bet to the river.
 
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