Trips on flop

Suppose I have a pocket pair and hit trips on the flop. What's the best way to get an opponent to go all in? Should I just push on the flop? Min bet? Bet 1/2 the pot on flop, turn and river? Wait for a bet and raise?

Any suggestions?

First of all, if you hit three of a kind on the flop and you're holding a pocket pair, this is called a set. Trips is when you hold (for example) AK and the flop comes KKx. There's an important distinction because sets are far more disguised than trips.

As to what to do, it totally depends on the flop texture and reads on your opponent:

- If the flop is dry (ie. no obvious draws) and opp is very aggressive postflop then you can possibly check/call.
- If the flop is drawy, you want to bet to protect your hand rather than risk giving a free card.
- If opp is a passive calling station, always tend towards betting out since if you check they will very often check behind and you lose a chance to build the pot.

Generally however, my default is to bet 1/2-2/3 the pot unless there are specific circumstances why checking (with the intention of either calling or raising if opp bets) may be a better line.

Minbetting is retarded, don't do it. It doesn't achieve anything. If you are going to bet, make a real bet of 1/2-2/3 pot. Similarly, pushing on the flop doesn't make much sense either since you will mostly get more value from your set when you make a normal bet rather than blowing opp out of the pot just when you want him to call.

The sad fact is that if you flop a set, unless opp also flopped something that he's prepared to put chips in the pot with, you may not win many more chips. Flopping a set isn't always money in the bank!

Originally Posted by poker_pup

What's the best way to get an opponent to go all in? ?

bet

if you are the preflop raiser, then you basically want to bet until the money goes in. if theres 4 to a flush/straight, then we prolly want to reconsider, but you get the picture. when i am calling with a pp oop, i will frequently c/r, as so many players cbet like every flop.

Bet but for the love of god dont min-bet

Which set did you hit? If it's bottom set, I'd play less aggressively. Otherwise a typical c-bet, like you are on to something but not here yet. You're hoping someone hit top pair, senses weakness and tries to jam you - BINGO!

Originally Posted by TheSyphon

Which set did you hit? If it's bottom set, I'd play less aggressively.

Villain's tendencies and board texture have a lot more to do with how you should play it than whether it's top/middle/bottom set -- they're all very strong hands...

Absolutely, I'm just noting that if our opponent hit top pair and draws to a set or something, it's worth considering.

They are ALL great hands (89%), but top set is makes for slightly easier decisions.

Originally Posted by TheSyphon

Which set did you hit? If it's bottom set, I'd play less aggressively.

lol at playing bottom set less aggro.

Originally Posted by TheSyphon

They are ALL great hands (89%), but top set is makes for slightly easier decisions.

Even still, when you hit any set at all, you should almost never worry about if your opponent hit a higher one. In the end your decision is still the same: get the money in ASAP.

Originally Posted by taipan168

- If the flop is dry (ie. no obvious draws) and opp is very aggressive postflop then you can possibly check/call.
- If the flop is drawy, you want to bet to protect your hand rather than risk giving a free card.
- If opp is a passive calling station, always tend towards betting out since if you check they will very often check behind and you lose a chance to build the pot.

Couldn't have said it any better.

Originally Posted by taipan168

Flopping a set isn't always money in the bank!

This couldn't be more true! Fish love to gamble so even when you bet the pot to give them bad drawing odds, they're calling down regardless. Shit happens.

In general, don't sloplay
you either bet.... or bet!
If out of position and opp is preflop aggresor, u can c/r if he c-bets a lot, or lead into him a modest amount trying for it to look like a blocking bet so that he raises you.
You really want the pot to get bigger for the turn/river bets to get you all-in.
A check check situation would be a disaster, so when in doubt, BET!

I agree with everyone, and betting is your best option generally. You have a good hand, so build a pot. If he folds to your bet, chances are you weren't getting money in there anyways.

A similiar question comes when hitting trips on the flop. So I have a quick question. Generally when I hit trips on the flop, I rarely get paid. I'm pretty sure it's that my opponent just doesn't have a second best hand he is will to felt with, but is there a way you guys perfer to play these hands? Say you had AJ and the flop comes JJ8 rainbow. I mean I know it also depends on preflop action (as well as other things), but you can be pretty sure he doesn't have an J and not much else plays. I generally just bet here figuring if he has nothing, then I was getting nothing in anyways, but would it possibly be best to play this really weak trying to induce bluffs?

Originally Posted by XxStacksxX

I agree with everyone, and betting is your best option generally. You have a good hand, so build a pot. If he folds to your bet, chances are you weren't getting money in there anyways.

A similiar question comes when hitting trips on the flop. So I have a quick question. Generally when I hit trips on the flop, I rarely get paid. I'm pretty sure it's that my opponent just doesn't have a second best hand he is will to felt with, but is there a way you guys perfer to play these hands? Say you had AJ and the flop comes JJ8 rainbow. I mean I know it also depends on preflop action (as well as other things), but you can be pretty sure he doesn't have an J and not much else plays. I generally just bet here figuring if he has nothing, then I was getting nothing in anyways, but would it possibly be best to play this really weak trying to induce bluffs?

In most situations i prefer to just lead out. People will sometimes think ur buying a paired flop, and u will get calls from low PPs and floaters w overcards.
The board means a lot, as well as the nr of ppl in the pot and who was the preflop aggressor.
Drawy board, lead out.
Multiway pot, lead out
Ur the PF aggressor, c-bet
Villain is PF aggressor, lead w a probe bet or c/call his c-bet

What i would never do is c/r w trips, as that is the most transparent play

Trips on flop, good but needs skillful play

Originally Posted by XxStacksxX

A similiar question comes when hitting trips on the flop. So I have a quick question. Generally when I hit trips on the flop, I rarely get paid. I'm pretty sure it's that my opponent just doesn't have a second best hand he is will to felt with, but is there a way you guys perfer to play these hands? Say you had AJ and the flop comes JJ8 rainbow. I mean I know it also depends on preflop action (as well as other things), but you can be pretty sure he doesn't have an J and not much else plays. I generally just bet here figuring if he has nothing, then I was getting nothing in anyways, but would it possibly be best to play this really weak trying to induce bluffs?

I fire away with trips, especially with no kicker. Mathematically, we're probably WA on a dry board. Of course, there are dangers...

$0.05/$0.1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($7.15)
UTG 1 ($21.85)
CO ($5.30)
BTN ($22.15)
SB ($9.68)
Hero ($11.85)

Pre-flop: ($0.15, 6 players) Hero is BB
UTG calls $0.10, 1 fold, CO calls $0.10, BTN calls $0.10, 1 fold, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.45, 4 players)
Hero bets $0.45, UTG raises to $0.90, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.90, Hero goes all-in $11.75, UTG goes all-in $6.15, BTN folds

Turn: ($20.60, 2 players)

River: ($20.60, 2 players)

Final Pot: $15.45
Hero shows:
UTG shows: