Is there ANYTHING I could have done to defend against this bad beat?

[Karak567]

PS 10 + 1 SNG

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t100 (7 handed)

UTG (t1445)
MP1 (t1890)
Hero (t2750)
CO (t1805)
Button (t1710)
SB (t865)
BB (t3035)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 7/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif.
UTG folds, MP1 calls t100, Hero calls t100, CO calls t100, Button folds, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t500) T/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="blue">(5 players)</font>
SB checks, BB checks, <font color="CC3333">MP1 bets t400</font>, Hero calls t400, CO folds, SB folds, BB folds.

Turn: (t1300) T/images/graemlins/spade.gif <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
MP1 checks, Hero checks.

River: (t1300) Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">MP1 bets t600</font>, <font color="CC3333">Hero raises to t1300</font>, <font color="CC3333">MP1 raises to t1390</font>, Hero calls t90.

Final Pot: t4080

Results in white below: <font color="white">
MP1 has Js Th (full house, tens full of jacks).
Hero has 7d 7s (full house, sevens full of tens).
Outcome: MP1 wins t4080. </font>

[rjb03]

I don't think so. Who's folding top two pair on this board in a $10 tourney? I doubt you'd be able to even knock off a flush draw in some of them.

[Karak567]

I just have been playing so well all day, I had played 5 hands up until that point. It's so frustrating. The guy even commented "Wow, you were doing really well, that just sucked."

Yeah, it knocked me out, the blinds ate me alive after that, as I didn't see a face card or pocket pair until the BB put me all in.

[knightunner]

That's poker.

[iblucky4u2]

I'm just starting to play one-tables so I'm still a novice. It would seem to me that the only thing you could do is be more aggressive pre-flop. Try raising to 500 (or more?) to knock out that JTo. Would he risk 30+% of his stack?

[rjb03]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just starting to play one-tables so I'm still a novice. It would seem to me that the only thing you could do is be more aggressive pre-flop. Try raising to 500 (or more?) to knock out that JTo. Would he risk 30+% of his stack?

[/ QUOTE ]
Then what's your plan when the sevens whiff? Besides, who wouldn't want JT to call with that flop?

[iblucky4u2]

I'm talking about a pre-flop raise. If there are any callers then see what flops and go from there. You should be able to get button with raise.

Would you call with JTo pre-flop for another 400+?

[reecelights]

I think the only chance (and very slim at that) is to bet LESS on the flop, either check, min bet, or bet 200, something to make you look weak. Hope he raises, and then push. I think the only way to win the pot is to get all your money in on the flop, and show the most strength you can. You pretty much know you're going to go all-in when you hit don't you?

He probably still calls with top two, thinking you have an overpair. And all-in all, I thought you played it right. Value bet your set with that many people in the pot, you'll usually make more than by pushing.

[Fnord]

You're losing your stack here. Deal.

Join another SnG and go get 'em tiger!

[Soleo]

[ QUOTE ]
Flop: (t500) T/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="blue">(5 players)</font>
SB checks, BB checks, <font color="CC3333">MP1 bets t400</font>, Hero calls t400, CO folds, SB folds, BB folds.

[/ QUOTE ]
Forget about his actual JT. Why not raise on flop to about 1000? You have strong hand and calling 400 here you provide free/cheap turn card to lot of draws.

[jrz1972]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Flop: (t500) T/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="blue">(5 players)</font>
SB checks, BB checks, <font color="CC3333">MP1 bets t400</font>, Hero calls t400, CO folds, SB folds, BB folds.

[/ QUOTE ]
Forget about his actual JT. Why not raise on flop to about 1000? You have strong hand and calling 400 here you provide free/cheap turn card to lot of draws.

[/ QUOTE ]

You guys are being too results-oriented. He WANTS people to call his bet. If you aren't going to get your sets paid off (by blowing people out of the hand with a giant flop raise, for example), you should never play small pocket pairs in the first place.

Sometimes you'll get your set cracked, and you'll lose a ton of chips, but that's the right way to play it.

[nuclear500]

So you let yourself be blinded out?

If anything should hold true for any player - never let yourself be blinded out. Put it all in before letting that happpen.

There is only one exception to this of course, but its a rarity that it happens.

[michaliv]

I think you are probably going to lose your stack her no matter what. But I would probably reraise on the flop about 800-1000 more. He will call you here, but what would you do if someone called behind you and another club came on the turn? I think you have to raise her to knock out flush draws (or make them pay to draw at you).

[EnderW27]

[ QUOTE ]
You guys are being too results-oriented. He WANTS people to call his bet.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, really, he doesn't. There's 500 in the pot pf and if he calls the 400 bet, then any callers after him are getting better than 3:1 odds on straight draws and flush draws. That can't happen.

[chill888]

Is there ANYTHING I could have done to defend against this bad beat?

Probably not, but you should have pushed whe u it the set. It is not a board to go slowly with a set.

[Travis]

On this flop the only thing that will save the bottom set is a flush or straight scare card. Once the board paired you were toast.

[Solitare]

Slow-playing is over-rated and mis-understood.

This isn't even a slow-play situation. When you slow-play you are hoping that future cards will allow the other players to catch up to your monster. This situation violates that on two counts:

- MP1 has already shown interest in the hand, you don't need 4th street to get any action, you already have it.
- You may know you have a big hand, but the others don't. Trips is probably the best hidden hand hold'em. A bet from you will not appear that scary (compared to the flop having a pair or 3-flush)

Since MP1 has already shown interest, this really isn't a slow-play situation. He's got something. Your job now is to protect your probable superior hand from MP1 (and possible draw from the other limpers). A raise is a must. A big or small raise could be debated whether your strategy is to protect your hand with a big raise (my choice) or extract value with a small raise.