Just needed to whine
I had good sessions all weekend. But I have one problem in my game. I’m unable to sniff out sets. I’d agree with anyone who said my river bet on this hand was spewy, but I would have called an all in by my opponent anyway. I was pretty confident I was ahead. I had my opponent on two pair.
Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 9 Players
Hand History Converter by Stoxpoker
UTG+1: $40.90 (163.6 bb)
MP1: $34.15 (136.6 bb)
MP2: $22.80 (91.2 bb)
MP3: $19.60 (78.4 bb)
CO: $24.90 (99.6 bb)
BTN: $24.65 (98.6 bb)
SB: $25.75 (103 bb)
Hero (BB): $28.20 (112.8 bb)
UTG: $19.95 (79.8 bb)
Pre-Flop: Hero is BB with K
Q
UTG raises to $0.50, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.50, MP3 calls $0.50, CO folds, BTN calls $0.50, SB folds, Hero calls $0.25
Flop: ($2.60) A J
7
(5 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP2 checks, MP3 checks, BTN bets $1.45, Hero calls $1.45, UTG folds, MP2 folds, MP3 folds
Turn: ($5.50) T (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $3, Hero raises to $8.75, BTN calls $5.75
River: ($23) J (2 players)
Hero bets $17.50 and is all-in, BTN calls $13.95 and is all-in
My 10 biggest losing hands this weekend were all sets (or sets that rivered a full boat).
Results: $50.90 pot ($2.45 rake)
Hero showed K Q (a straight, Ten to Ace) and lost (-$24.65 net)
BTN showed 7 7 (a full house, Sevens full of Jacks) and won $48.45 ($23.80 net)
My 10 biggest losing hands this weekend were all sets (or sets that rivered a full boat). 3 of those 10 I lost when I had a set and my opponent had a better set. If anyone has any tricks up their sleeves on how to sniff sets out, please share.
Sniffing out sets is hard to do. I think the some things I’ve seen are the smooth call on a board that seems innocent. Most players at these levels are apt to slowplay their sets especially if the player has been very passive and weak. The good thing about sets is that I think most players misplay their sets which saves me money. For example, the villain hits a set and he/she wants to be paid off, so usually they’ll put in small bets hoping for calls. They never think about the hand that you have and how to maximize their sets, so from that perspective that saves you money also (not all players misplay their sets but there are a fair share of them at those levels).
As for sniffing out sets, on a regular basis, it’s really tough.
I guess it really depends on the type of player you’re up against. If they’re doing something out of the ordinary and something that isn’t consistent with their play in the past, then chances are they’ll have a big hand such as a set.
On the hand that you posted, I think that there was nothing you could do about that hand. You hit your straight and should’ve been paid off if it weren’t for the lucky Jack on the river.
I’m not sure if my comments helped as there can be a whole forum devoted to sets and how to play them and how to play against them so I guess it really depends on the texture of the board, the other player’s tendencies and if that player is weak or strong.