How to play trips with GOOD kicker?

===== Hand 1 =====

Opp plays 62% of hands, has never raised pre-flop, over 45 hands of data. My weak turn bet was to induce a raise- to see if he also has an A. I was confident in my kicker at the time, since if opp called/raised I would put him on Ax where x = mid range to J.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (6 max, 6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

SB ($32.95)
Hero ($66.55)
UTG ($13.25)
MP ($54.45)
CO ($78.60)
Button ($46.90)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, A. SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, CO calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.5, UTG calls $1.50, CO calls $1.50.

Flop: ($6.25) 4, A, 5 (3 players)
Hero bets $3, UTG folds, CO calls $3.

Turn: ($12.25) A (2 players)
Hero bets $3, CO calls $3.

River: ($18.25) J (2 players)
Hero bets $8, CO raises to $25, Hero calls $17.

Final Pot: $68.25

===== Hand 2 =====

Opp plays 25% of hands and raises pf 3.75% of the time, over 80 hands of data. Since I had top kicker, I was very confident. His river bet signaled he had filled up, but I figured I had the odds to call, since it could also be the case that he didn't believe I also had trips and wanted to get it all-in on the river.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

UTG ($37.85)
Hero ($50)
CO ($39.15)
Button ($33.45)
SB ($22.30)
BB ($34.35)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A, 3. SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, 1 fold, SB (poster) completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.50) 3, 3, 4 (5 players)
SB bets $0.5, BB raises to $2, UTG folds, Hero raises to $6, CO folds, SB folds, BB calls $4.

Turn: ($15) Q (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $10, BB calls $10.

River: ($35) T (2 players)
BB bets $17.85 (All-In), Hero calls $17.85.

Final Pot: $70.70


================

I think the biggest issue here is pot control. How do I keep from inflating the pot, so that I can minimize my losses? Conversely, if I do fill up, how do I go about jamming the pot w/ out scaring away someone with trips? Any comments about my play is welcome. I have always had problems playing trips for whatever reason, so this is an area I need to work on. Thanks.

There's a good chance you lost both of those pots. But you played it fine. both of those hands im pretty sure you got outdrawn by you opponent. hand 1 on the river you may find a fold.

Originally Posted by IowaSkinsFan

There's a good chance you lost both of those pots. But you played it fine. both of those hands im pretty sure you got outdrawn by you opponent. hand 1 on the river you may find a fold.

How on earth could u consider folding hand 1 on the river? Where i play (600 nl ring-6max) people will do that move on a busted draw occationally, and on trips at other times...noway I fold. That said, I'd raise more. More pf. More on flop. More on turn. Hand 2 I like all the way through, and it is an easy call on the river. BB might have 3T, 3Q or 34, but he could also have any other 3 or AhQh. U have to call.
By the way, u don't want pot control here...u want the pots to grow to all ins...u are holding monsters. Preferably u'd like the pots to grow more on the flop and turn and less on the river though...

Originally Posted by Aquinas

Originally Posted by IowaSkinsFan

There's a good chance you lost both of those pots. But you played it fine. both of those hands im pretty sure you got outdrawn by you opponent. hand 1 on the river you may find a fold.

How on earth could u consider folding hand 1 on the river? Where i play (600 nl ring-6max) people will do that move on a busted draw occationally, and on trips at other times...noway I fold. That said, I'd raise more. More pf. More on flop. More on turn. Hand 2 I like all the way through, and it is an easy call on the river. BB might have 3T, 3Q or 34, but he could also have any other 3 or AhQh. U have to call.
By the way, u don't want pot control here...u want the pots to grow to all ins...u are holding monsters. Preferably u'd like the pots to grow more on the flop and turn and less on the river though...

right on sir

So with trips, top/near top kicker, a good strategy is to push the flop and turn? Then perhaps slow down a bit if a draw completes? What about "fearing" a full house, is that just playing scared poker? I think I'm starting to see what you guys are saying. Though it may be a "monster hand", it is the only monster hand I am never too confident about. It seems like I get outdrawn by a full house more times than not.

Hand 1: opp had 3T

Hand 2: opp had AJ

both times they rivered a FH to beat me!

---------- food for thought:

I think playing trips is analagous to playing tptk. You can never be certain that you have the best hand, since someone with the same pair could make 2-pair to "bad beat" you. However, in the case of tptk, pot control is usually exercised, is it not? Is that because of the wide range of other hands that have you beat, and the vulnerability of being outdrawn? In what ways are playing trips, top kicker and tptk different? Hopefully this makes some sense...

I know when I get 3-outed on the river after getting in lots of money with the best hand the first thing that comes to my mind is pot control.