What do you think of this trap?

Hey guys, this is a little thing I like to do when I flop a big hand, usually when I flop a set with pockets and out of position (preferably with AK on the board as well :P ). It's sort of a way to build the pot while not scaring people away... Obviously it depends on the situation (position, and not getting cute with draws out), but what do you guys think?

1) Holding middle-low pockets, flop a set in a raised pot. Bet out between around 2/3 pot, hoping to get called by TPTK or even weaker hands like 2nd pair, depending on how fishy it is.

2) Check the turn, to give the impression of "backing off" or weakness. AK or whatever hand ( or guy who thinks he's a clever reader) will bet here - I then reraise about 1.5x the bet.

3) Slam the river, either pot or 1.25pot, look like you're trying to steal. Fish have committed so much by this point that they won't want to let go of it, clever guy thinks he's caught you trying to steal.


It's worked a couple times now, I think it helps maximize profits with a set, and doesn't make it as obvious as simply going nuts with it...

Any other suggestions?

Lukie, what you do think of this line?

I make that move when a semibluff on the flop turns into the nuts on the turn. That is a dangerous move with a set as your opponent might check as well on the turn, and catch a miracle card on the river. At the point your entire stack is in danger.

Originally Posted by Lodogg

I make that move when a semibluff on the flop turns into the nuts on the turn. That is a dangerous move with a set as your opponent might check as well on the turn, and catch a miracle card on the river. At the point your entire stack is in danger.

If you are confident enough in your read to know your opp will bet, it can be a profitable move, but you still want to give your opp bad odds relative to the pot to see the river so your raise needs to be heftier than 1.5x his bet. Giving him good odds to continue is as bad as giving him a free card.

I have another line:

- Bet the flop.

- Then, bet the turn.

- Finally, push the river.

How about that?

Originally Posted by johnny_fish

I have another line:

- Bet the flop.

- Then, bet the turn.

- Finally, push the river.

How about that?

My preferred line also. It doesn't take many hands lost to avoidable suckouts to cure you of getting cute. "Make your hand and put the hammer down." The last time I told myself that I "should've bet the flop/turn" was quite a while ago now. Guess I'm slowly improving.

Leading into the preflop raiser is a standard part of my game now. Why limit it to just sets? I lead with all kinds of hands on the flop: sets, 2-pair, straight, flush, big draws, weak overpairs, and of course air on occasion. If villian is a c-betting machine, then leading is probably not your best choice.

Leading is a great way to disguise the strength of your hand if you do have a monster and also a great way to get the money in (with 100BB stacks) with a big draw and have a ton of fold equity at the same time. The line I like with a big draw is called bet/3-bet (via 2+2) where you lead for around 3/4 - full pot, get raised by a probable TPTK/overpair, and then you shove. Monster fold equity plus it makes it very tough for opponents to call 100BB's with just a pair, and even if you are called you are nearly a coinflip to win. Lately I've been using this line with flopped monsters and getting called routinely.

Also, at higher limits where players are more aware, it would be very commonplace for someone to just call a flop lead with a hand like TPTK and then check behind on the turn since they know that a flop lead could potentially mean a big hand and they are trying to reach showdown cheaply. So what am I saying? I think JohnnyFish's line is good against players that probably are too passive to bet big with TPTK/overpairs fearing sets, but too stubborn to lay them down. So once you identify these players start leading your draws, so you can get a free card.