Flopping A Set With Pocket Pair - Drawing For A Boat or Quads

A set is known as 3 of a kind. If you have say pocket 10’s, and the flop comes 10s 2s 6h then right there you have flopped a set. If your opponent goes all in you first need to consider if you have the best hand. In this situation your opponent may be going all in on a flush draw which is 9 outs for a flush. This means if you call and your opponent misses your going to win with at least a set. If you call the all in and your opponent makes a flush you are obviously going to loose but he could still make a flush and you make a full house or possibly hit your case 10 card and make quads to win. Basically you have a good hand already but your still drawing for a better hand if you call the all in. On the turn you have 7 outs for a 10, 2 or 6 to make a better hand. On the turn lets say you miss but a 4 comes out you now have 10 outs on the river for a 10, 2, 6 or a 4 for a Full House, a better hand than a Flush. So realistically at the Flop you have 10 outs drawing for a better hand. 10 outs gives you basically 4:1 (real odds are 3.7:1 but on the table this is difficult to calculate so I just go by 4:1 for 10 outs). But when your opponent goes all in your odds are cut in half so now you have 1.5:1(You actually have 1.6:1 but again this is difficult to calculate while playing so I just round it down to 1.5:1)

The reason why I’m explaining this is to give you an idea of what to do when you have flopped a set and your opponent goes all in. First thing you need to do is consider is what your opponent has. Has he flopped Quads? Has he flopped a Straight Flush? Has he flopped a Royal Flush? Has he flopped a higher Set than the Set I have? If the answer to all these questions is no then you can possibly call your opponents all in. If your opponent has gone all in for more than 2x the size of the original pot at the flop then you can’t call. If your first to act and you make a bet then your opponent goes all in don’t forget to add this amount to the pot. So for example if the pot is 1000 at the flop and your opponent goes all in for 2000 then your getting 1.5:1. When your opponent goes all in for 2x the size of the pot or less you can definitely call in this situation. You now have pot odds to call.

What do you think of this advice?

If you flop top set as in your example, you most likely have the nuts for that board. Now people could be drawing to a better hand or the flop may provide a straight possibility but that is highly unlikely. Id love to see someone get away from top set when there is a possible straight on the board. it is not easy to do, more than likey if your facing an all in, it is to an overpair or top pair great kicker. you cannot call an allin hoping to improve to a boat or quads. With PP you are looking to make your set. If you are up against several people and multiple allins, then you have to consider laying your hand down. But you dont flop a set ans then look to improve to a boat. It is nice, but its not why you play the hand. you play it to hit your set and then play accordingly.

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THFSOP Event #4 Champion
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If you flop a set, unless there is an obvious straight or flush draw out there, you should (with VERY few exceptions) never fold to an all in bet. In these situations, you are ahead, and if your opponent is drawing...guess what - they're only 30% to win!

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you should always check you sets unless there is a possible straight draw or flush draw out on the board and make sure to slow play them if possible.

I disagree hockey, I will almost always lead out with my sets. That way its easier to make contination bets in the futute, you might get raised, lots of reasons, if you slow play they could hit a gut shot, or a two-outer higher set!

If they have a higher PP and a 2-outer for the higher set they will probably call you anyway... But you have to vary your play, i like leading out with a set aswell.

I think I'd play it differently in a tournament vs a ring game.

In a tournament your chips in front of you are a little more valuable so I'd put a feeler bet out there to try to get a read. There's always a chance you'll get re-raised on a semi-bluff but if somebody's willing to risk their stack behind 2:1 so be it. You can't have the nutz every time.

In a ring game I come out betting them strong. Don't give them the odds to make the call on a 2:1 draw. If they make the call anyway and hit then in my mind they've earned the chips on a gamble and hopefully they'll keep up the good work because you'll come out ahead.

Bottom line, you can't play the game afraid to lose. Draws are going to hit you just need to be willing to get away when they do.

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