slowplaying set?

0.25/0.5$ NL 10 player.
You hold 44 in BB and only two others see the flop, SB and MP.
Flop comes Q42 rainbow. MP checks and SB bets minimum bet 0.5$.
Do you raise or slowplay your set, and why?

I'd at least raise it to $1 hoping that the queens will follow, or your luck, re-raise you. If they do, then just call their re-raise, which tells them that you might be afraid of your kicker.

ok - I raise to 1$ and they both call. Turn brings 8 with now two clubs on the table. SB bets 0.5$ again. Same procedure slowplaying, or raise big to avoid a sneaky flush? What do you put the others on?

The board is all over the place, I would put out a 1/2 pot bet and hope that he calls. You don't want him to try fishing to a gut-shot.

I raised to 2$ and they both called. River came 6 with no flush possible.
MP check and SB this time bet 2$ into the 10.5$ pot. How much do I raise?

Originally Posted by Borax

I raised to 2$ and they both called. River came 6 with no flush possible.
MP check and SB this time bet 2$ into the 10.5$ pot. How much do I raise?

I'd raise $4 or so. Solid but callable raise. You have no good reason to think you're behind anyone, but the board is scattered enough that any bigger raise might not get a call from anyone.

Well - it ended like this:
I raised to 5$ and they both called.
I had my 444 set
MP turned over KK!???
and SB turned over 53o, a straight - 6 high, taking the pot.
Moral: Bet your set

I got my set busted and probably deserved it, but still I couldn't believe the way MP played KK!

It's straight like those that get you all the time. He was on a draw from flop, but I'm sure he would have folded had you have made a reasonable raise. Unless he was a fish.

I feel bad for MP though. All low cards come out when he is holding a solid pair.

There's rarely much additional profit to be made through slow-playing a set, especially in an unraised pot like this, but there are big risks.

Agree with Dsax, someone who has, say, KQ is way more likely to pay you off if you start betting the flop vs smooth call flop and turn then try and get paid on river. Anyone without TP is not going to give you much money unless they make a hand that beats you on the river, but if you're betting they may try and make a play on the flop/turn.