PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, 1/2 (6 handed) converter

UTG ($174.45)
MP ($185.30) - loose player, likes to raise
CO ($146.40) - tight aggressive
BUTTON ($304.50) - very loose bully type, took me off of a few already
HERO ($199.65) - even after 2 hrs of play
BB ($79.75) - really needs to double up

Preflop: Hero is SB with [9h], [9c].
1 fold, CO calls $4, Button raises to $10, Hero calls $9, BB calls $8, MP calls $6, CO calls $6

Flop: ($50) [2s], [Qc], [9s] (5 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP bets $25, CO calls $25, Button raises to $75, Hero calls $75, BB folds, MP folds, CO calls $50.

Turn: ($300) [Jh] (3 players)
Hero bets $114.65 (all in), MP folds, Button calls $114.65.

River:($529) [7c]

Questions on this hands:

1) Pre-flop call ok w/ 9s out of SB? I figured if everyone calls I'm getting nearly 5-1 to try to hit a set. The Button was a huge bully I seriously almost was gonna push back pre-flop. The $6 raise to $10 just seems like such a nut tickler.

2) Post-Flop check? I'm first to act here flopping middle set on a rainbow flop. Figuring an overpair or AQ is gonna really blast this pot. Also do I smooth call the $75 or push right there. I think I should've pushed.

3) Turn All-In? I still had 2 opponents in the pot and I can't allow for a 1 card straight or something gay like that. There is already 300 in pot I really feel like I'm ahead here and would like only 1 caller. (I think)



Thanks,

Krup

p/f call is fine.

c/r all-in on the flop.

I don't like the slowplay on the flop. There's enough action texture to this flop that leading, you will get a raise by more agressive opponents and you will be able to still extract a lot on flop while still protecting your hand from straight and flush draws.

Since you played it that way to turn, yeah, I think you need to get the rest of your money in. Turn is fine, imo.

Speed up on the flop.

I like the bet/ reraise pot line :-)

Kinda what I thought. Bet out on flop get reraised and push all in.

Did you think about reraising and trying to isolate someone? 5 to 1 to flop a set isn't the correct odds, so with a strong pair at a short handed table I think I would try to isolate one of the pf raisers. Exspecially since you are completely out of position.

Since you hit the set on the flop, your probably a monster favorite at this point, so make sure to get the money in while you are definetly ahead. You do not want someone drawing to a flush on you here. Check raising looks like the play of choice since you are out of position and the aggressive players act after you. Get all your money in, the guy with the 75 dollar raise is saying he has a hand, put him to the test now.

Gotta include the implied odds of taking someone's whole stack. Op is making 8-1 easily if getting 5-1 preflop.

I agree and disagree

I didn't isolate PF cause I really felt someone had an overpair.

I probably should've pushed the flop as u said and should've put the raiser to the test.

Lead out and expect to get raised so you can push, or check/raise all in on the flop.

Either way, get all in on the flop with your set.

I think I like leading out, getting raised, and pushing over the raise more than the check/raise, because the check/raise screams SET!!! and a really good player is capable of laying down AA for the action. With the bet/push, the raiser is more committed than if you checkraise, and it's not as sneaky so their "set" spidey sense will hopefully not be tingling as much.

I wouldn't be thrilled about that turn though. Now there are two cards that possibly over-setted for your opponents, and they could definitely have that range of hands (QQ or JJ). But still... set over set happens, and when it does, shrug and pay it off. It's a wildly profitable play to get all your money in there on that flop.

With all of the action players at your table, you made the right play by calling p/f, and checking the flop. You should really go all in on the flop. There are so many draws out there, that you have to push in order to get the draws out, or make them pay a heavy price.

Exactly. I didn't want to scream set, I just wanted to extract chips so since I opted to check flop I decided to just call his bet which I've learned was dumb. I couldn't figure that JJ was still in the pot. I definitely shoulda pushed on the flop I don't know wtf I was thinking.

Set over set does happen but fortunately for me it didn't this time.

Most posters have been saying this, so I am not adding anything novel to this thread.

However, I feel compelled to throw my support in favor of betting right out on the flop in the hope of getting raised. A previous poster made the fantastic point that this strategy commits your opponents to the pot, while a check-raise will allow them to fold with a clear conscience.

Doyle Brunson says in SuperSystem that betting right into a preflop raiser when you have a strong hand is among the best plays in No Limit Hold'em. I couldn't agree more.

Hold'em has evolved to the point where aggression is the norm. Betting is the standard...therefore, one bet no longer serves to define one's hand. It could be a single pair, a draw, a set...it gives the preflop raiser no information whatsoever.

He could easily put in a raise himself with AQ, KK, or even a draw himself, just to "define his hand."

By the time you go all in...he is pot committed, and drawing near-dead unless he is lucky enough to be on a straight or flush draw. His poor AQ is helpless. His overpair is a 2-outer.

Bet the flop!

Blessings,
Posoo

Very well put. I, as well, am a big fan of the supersystem strategy.

You're right, you didn't add much new to the thread, but you worded it very well. I must say again, very well.

Thanks posoo well said. I think I will bet the flop next time I flop a monster.

True, it's just a different option to the play and I was wondering why he didn't take it. I'm not saying I would have done it, but I would have thought about it for sure.

Either way nice hand!