[W. Deranged]

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On such a draw heavy flop, raise you are in perfect position with the bet to your immediate right.

[/ QUOTE ]play is incorrect. It is the pot size that makes the smooth call incorrect. In fact if the pot size was 6 small bets instead of 11 small bets, I wouldve just called also. The flush draws and the OESD's have a profitable call no matter what the hero does, but if a blank hits the turn the hero will have the opportunity to charge the maximum to these draws by forcing them to call 2BB's on forth street when they are around 4-1 underdogs. Thats how I like to play a set on this flop in a smaller pot, but in a pot of this size(11sb) raising to force the gutshots to fold correctly or call incorrectly is more important than waiting til forth street to charge the premium draws maximum price.

In case youre interested, Mason Malmuth gives a good example of slowplaying a set on a draw heavy board in poker essays 3, on page 91. Pocket 99's on a Jc 9s 3c board.

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The board texture is VERY important for this as well -- I'd say more important than the pot size. Too many players raise their draws on the flop and wait until the turn to pop a set; this often results in tons of players distrusting flop action and putting in multiple bets on the flop drawing slim to dead, but slowing way the [censored] down after you raise the turn. There are so many advantages to raising this particular flop in this particular situation that I don't think it's particularly close.

Rob

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Agreed. Raising is so much better. Because the expected betting is coming from your right, waiting till the turn will often just totally shut down your action in a way raising the flop will not. The board texture also tends to make it less sure that you'll get bet into on the turn (either because the bettor has a draw which he'll check if the turn misses, or because a scary turn card will induce the bettor to check).

Not raising this flop would be a big mistake in my opinion.