How do you spot a flopped set?

O.K. heres a situation that gets me a lot. For example lets say that you are dealt:



You raise 4x the big blind and say you get one or two callers.

Then the flop:



Lets assume the opposition are fairly good players. You dont expect them to have Q7, 72, or Q2. Since there are no straight or flush draws at this point your probably pretty good. The only scary hands for you are QQ, 77, or 22. Now the problem that I find is that someone will play these hands very similar to the way they would play something like AQ. So way to many times I feel like I have the best hand and end up losing a lot of chips when the cards are flipped over and they show the 77.

So I was wondering what kinds of signs do you guys look for to determine if they have hit a set? How do you play this kind of hand? To me this is the hardest read to make because the chances are your ahead, but you could be way behind.

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theprofessor@texasholdemforums.com

ive had similar problems myself....though more with 2 pair.
In your scenario, id like to think that someone with pocket 2s would fold if the raise was 4xbb. This isnt always the case. Your more likely to be up against AK, AQ, QQ or even JJ, 10 10.

I would probably play AQ similar to QQ - after all, you dont want to raise too high and scare people away (if anything id raise higher with AQ so i didnt get outdrawn)

This is where you reads come into play....something im notorious for not having online because im browsing the web or watching a film. Other than that, a lot of the time youll have to bite the bullet and pay them off.

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How they play the flop is often a good indication of the strength of their hand. As a general rule they'll tend to be more aggresive on the flop when they don't have set. If they have a set they'll probably slowplay it a little, but with a hand like AQ they'll probably come out firing on the flop. But there really is no easy way out of this situation. If you have KK and someone flops a set on a Q72 board you're going to lose a lot of chips.

I agree with Gordy. The flop is where you "try" and get a feel of where you stand. Trips will usually be slowplayed. So if they come out betting I think a re-raise is in order here. This will give you indication of their strength. If they check on the flop, you would obviously lay out a decent size bet. Then see what they do. If they call the bet then I would bet the turn and check the river. If they are really slowplaying they will call the bet on the turn and check the river thinking you'll come out betting again. But you shouldnt. Take the pot as it is or lose it without giving them the chance to make additional $$ on the river. If you bet the river you give them the chance to check-raise a bunch of chips that you may not want to call.

Thats how I play it but only If I think I'm being slowplayed.

If I bet the flop or the turn and I get check-raised, I have to make a decision about the read i have on that player. Is he bluffing or not? I will usually call the raise on the flop and wait til see what he does on the turn. Some people don't have the follow up bluff in them and some do. Its all up to your read.

How do *I* spot a flopped set? the answer is very simple... *I* can't do it.

its hard to know, but i try to pay attention to every1s betting patterns at my table, if some1 follows the same pattern when they make their hand( which a lot of people do believe it or not) or if you get a sneaky check raise.

thats where ur instincts just have to kick in, and for the most part when i listen to them, they are right.

those instincts are some smart little buggers.

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I agree with Fink especially on the internet where you have all different kinds of crazy bets for different reasons...its just like in the first hand of a tournament how do you know if an opponents all-in is really a hand or a bluff...you have such a variety of players with such a variety of ways that they play their hands that there is no way to tell.

As far as I am concerned, if I flopped a set, it would depend on what my game has been up to this point, if I have been taking down a lot of pots uncontested, I am going to bet them very strong, most players will take this for a bluff or your continuation on trying to buy pots...a small bet or check after a strong pre-flop would send up a flag.

There is only one person that I know that can pick up hands like this and that is Phil Hellmuth and he is the absolute best player that excells on these pick ups....and that is live play, I don't know how he would fair out on the internet.

all guts.. I mean... I laid QQ preflop once to a 3x BB raise, just knew... just KNEW he had AA. I was last to lay down, said "show the aces" and he had aces. Not a laydown I'm gonna make hardly ever... but I just KNEW. *went on to finish 2nd in the tourney, was a $5 rebuy on AP, won $550.*

Now I just dont understand this for a couple reasons... Im not ragging on you in any way Riha I just would like to understand. First this was in online poker, if they arent talkin then a 3x BB raise preflop isn't telling anyone anything unless you had played with them for a good long time and this was their first preflop raise of any kind.

Secondly WHY WOULD YOU FOLD??? If I was playing someone and I knew, I absolutely KNEW they had AA vs my QQ and they threw out 3x BB preflop I'm calling to see if that 3rd lady comes on the flop. If it does you OWN them