Getting the most value out of this set...

[nef]

I am in a good $15/$30 game, 10 handed, everyone not specifically mentioned folded pre-flop. There are two late position posters. UTG limps in. I limp immediately after him with 7h7s. The two late position posters check, and the button raises. SB folds, BB calls, and one late poster calls. 5 player see the flop. The flop is J-7-6 rainbow. Checked to pre-flop raiser. Mistake #1? My plan was to raise the flop if two people called, and maybe wait to the turn depending on the action.

The button bets, BB calls, UTG raises. I figure that calling two-cold on this board should set off some alarms. Maybe I am giving too much credit to the observation powers of my opponents, but I go ahead and 3-bet. Button and BB fold, UTG calls. Turn is A of the 4th suit. UTG now bets out. To me his play is consistent with AJ, or maybe even A7s, A6s, don't know how loose he is preflop. HE also could be bluffing the "scare card" since I played my hand in a way that it probably appears weaker than a set. I decide to wait and raise the river. Mistake?

[Nightwish]

I would probably bet the flop because it's the button who raised preflop.

However, once you decide to check and UTG check-raises, it's much better to call 2 cold rather than 3-bet. If you 3-bet, you're forcing everyone other than UTG out. You don't want to do this. I would call 2 cold, hopefully have as many people as possible call as well, and then raise UTG's turn bet.

But you decided to 3-bet. On the turn, you need to raise because UTG will be very suspicious if you just call and may not bet the river for you. Not to mention that he may be on a draw and will give you no action on the river.

[ike]

Calling two cold on the flop looks more like 89 than it does like a set. I think its the right play.

[2005]

You bet the flop because you want the pre-flop raiser to raise and fold everyone behind you? I would think the pre-flop raiser being on your left would be a good reason to go for the check-raise. This allows you to trap all the in-between players for 2 bets one at a time instead of forcing them to call 2 bets cold. Now that UTG has check-raised, you should call the 2 bets so that you can get another 2 bets out of the button and BB and perhaps they will give more action on the turn.

Gavin

[Nightwish]

The reason to bet the flop is that I think the button's hand is not necessarily that strong. Remember that he raised two LP posters. Though it's not a disaster if it's checked around on the flop, I don't want that to happen.

[elysium]

hi nef
i'm sure that you realize not betting out on the flop was a mistake. this is nothing but bet and raise with everything you've got, no stopping.

the turn....if you're having fun, just don't spend too much.

as long as you keep your losses down to twenty an hour fen, you're ahead of the game. that's what the casino pays out per hour to pamper you while you play. it's entertainment nef. if you want to get serious, take a year off and put in some study time. never hurts to do a little studying nef. you do have hfap, right nef?

[3rdCheckRaise]

You leave no room for comments...there is absolutely nothing to add after you done with a hand...

[obi---one]

You have to know your position relative to the raiser in order to get the most money in when you flop a set. If you are first to bet, you should bet in order to trap everybody in for multiple bets. If you are immediately before the raiser, you must checkraise the flop in order to trap players in for multiple bets. And, you always make the biggest pots with lots of people in and lots of flop action.