Man, this forum is dead with Brian and Piers! Get the hell back, you two!

Anyway, here's a hand I played today, I think that I played it well for the most part, but probably lost at least one more big bet than I should've. I'll post the hand, followed by my thoughts.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , . CO posts a blind of $3.
UTG calls, UTG+1 raises, 1 fold, MP2 calls, 3 folds, Hero calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (9.33 SB) , , (4 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls, UTG+1 raises, MP2 calls, Hero calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (8.66 BB) (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 bets, MP2 calls, Hero raises, UTG calls, UTG+1 3-bets, MP2 calls, Hero caps, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, MP2 calls.

River: (24.66 BB) (4 players)
Hero bets, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, MP2 folds.

Final Pot: 26.66 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 6d 6h (three of a kind, sixes).
UTG+1 has Th Tc (three of a kind, tens).
Outcome: UTG+1 wins 26.66 BB.

Okay, pre-flop I'm getting good odds from the BB to try and spike a set, so I don't think there's any problem there. Sure enough, BAM! I hit my set! Yippeeeee!!! Calling UTG+1's raise, rather than 3-betting, could be questionable, but I felt that despite the small added risk, going for a turn check-raise was my best way to maximize value.

But then, when I follow through and check-raise, the pre-flop raiser 3-bets me! It was at this point that I got scared of QQ or TT, but I rationalized myself into believing that he might have KK or AA, so I cap and lead out on the river. Turns out I'm lucky that he did have TT, rather than QQ, or I would've cost myself even more. More than anything else, I think I just got kinda pissed off and stubborn when it appeared I might be beaten after finally flopping a strong hand. Should I have backed off and called the 3-bet here (and then check-called the river)? I think so, but I'd like some feedback; also feel free to critique how I chose to play on the flop.

-TW

I usually dont question myself to badly when get beaten by set over set. Except to wonder how low a pp I should be playing anyway.

Here is how I would have played it.

preflop call
flop check/raise, then call if reraised
turn check/raise again and get really anal when reraised but call anyway
river unless this guy has shown me that hes a goofball, im checking and calling

I would have been really happy about seeing 2 other players in this pot, cause I figure Im getting better pot odds. (sadly not knowing that I was drawing almost dead)

Set over set doesnt happen too often, but I figure if I dont lose a bit with it I didnt play it aggressively enough.

Absolutely, unless the board is really scary, I'm going to get a lot of money in with even a low set, rather than living in constant fear of a higher set. But, as you said, I really should've slowed down on the turn after he 3-bet. And betting the river was definitely bad too.

I'm ashamed to say it, but part of the problem might've been this: after he 3-bet the turn, I thought it pretty likely that he had me beat. But I got that defeatist mind-set that almost says "I'm gonna lose even more, just so I have a bigger pot to whine about losing!" Don't get me wrong, I'm not in the habit of giving away money just to have something to bitch about...but I definitely think that had I been running better/playing better up to this point, I would've dealt with the situation more rationally and called down after his 3-bet.

In the end, losing one extra bet in a really big pot with a set isn't THAT big a deal. What worried me more was my lack of discipline after it became evident that a higher set was possible.

-TW

I like betting out the flop because is gives AQ and KQ and big pocket pairs and opportunity to raise. When he raises the flop, he could be doing it with a wide variety of hands depending on the player's aggression (AK, AQ, AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, KQ, ect). I like the call because its likely he will bet the turn so you can check raise and trap people for multiple bets. When he 3 bets, this is completely a read situation on the player. I've seen people doing it with AQ or a higher set, all that he would have likely played the same way. If you have the feeling he had the higher set, go with it and just go into call mode. If he's overly aggressive, I cap the turn and then call if he raises me on the river.

BTW, I'm back for the Poker Stars reload so I will likely be posting more soon. The whole forum seemed dead for a couple days on Friday and Saturday after I left. I didn't realize all my posts kept this place going.

Bri,

Glad to see you back in action. I would start more threads on this forum, but for most of my tough hands...ummmmm...I'm too ashamed of my starting hand to post it here.

Grow a pair and post them. If not, I can tell you the name of a good pawn shop where you can buy a set of balls.

Bri, be serious. Pawn shops don't sell balls. I've asked around.

-TW