Maximizing Top Set - With Draws on board

[teknipper]

He comes my biggest problem with NL Holdem: Hitting a set with draws on the board. New to the converter and couldn't get the bets to appear. First position raised to $2.00, I called right behind him, and received two other callers in late position. Everyone who called had ~$50 in front of them (NL 50).

One of the reasons that I have such a problem in these spots is that I generally play Omaha 8 where it is NEVER appropriate to slow play a hand. (Ok, may not never but only 1% of the time would I slow play.)

I flop my set and first postion bets $5 into an $8 pot. I raised pot ($15) and everyone folded quickly. My thoughts on the raise where that I wanted to stop anyone from drawing behind me, since there was a straight and flush draw out there. I was hoping that the first position has AA or KK and would reraise or that the late players came in with 22 or 33.

1) How could I have played this hand / situation different to maximize my set without risking being draw out on?

2) Should have I just called there representing a draw to induce a bet on the turn if a brick fell?

3) How would my strategy differ if there would not have been two cold callers behind me and I would have had position? If it was heads up, I think I would have most likely just called there and wait for his action on the turn. A check would put him on AK and I would check also to let him catch up on the river.

4) Would hitting 2nd or 3rd set change the strategy at all?


Party Poker (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with , .
5 folds.

Flop: , , (4 players)
MP1 folds, Button folds, SB folds.

Final Pot:

[iceman5]

1) You played thew hand fine. Every now and then I might just call there, but if a club hits you have to be willing to fold which most people arent. A raise is better especially in a raised pot.

2) Not really, because if one of the guys behind you calls the flop bet, he probably does hve the flush draw. Also, another club will kill your action anyway so you won tmake alot off your set.

3) If its heads up, Im much more willing to just call the flop, although even though a club may not kill your hand, it still kills your action.

4) Not really. The only difference is that when you raise the flop, if it gets cold called behind you, you dont have to worry about being set over setted, but there a decent chance you have the cold caller set over setted. You play the rest of the hand the same either way, but you can have more confidence when you get heavy action.

[rdale]