I think I put way too much value on PPs

After doing pretty well in this freeroll (made it to the top 100), this one knocked me out.

The reason is that I assume -- with one other person in the hand -- that it's just WAY too unlikely for himher to have the card that beats me.

I rule out a pair higher than J because he only called PF. I check the turn with him because he obviously has something he likes. When the other J comes, I assume he played 2nd or 3rd button and is betting into me because he thinks i have overcards only.

I'm starting to think PP < K are only playable when you set them. Comments?

ANTES/BLINDS
YENDOR1707 posts blind ($800).

PRE-FLOP
Jobbo the Hu calls $800, fedge folds, NuWere bets $1,600, blue1944 folds, HVYHITTER folds, tchoupy folds, E-Z-E folds, jaymar210 folds, YENDOR1707 folds, Jobbo the Hu calls $800.

FLOP [board cards 3S,JH,2S ]
Jobbo the Hu bets $800, NuWere bets $2,000, Jobbo the Hu calls $1,200.

TURN [board cards 3S,JH,2S,3D ]
Jobbo the Hu checks, NuWere checks.

RIVER [board cards 3S,JH,2S,3D,JC ]
Jobbo the Hu bets $1,600, NuWere calls $1,600.

SHOWDOWN
Jobbo the Hu shows [ KC,JD ]
NuWere mucks cards [ 10H,10S ]
Jobbo the Hu wins $11,200.

I'm pretty new to this game myself, but I'll give you my opinions based on what I've learned so far.

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The reason is that I assume -- with one other person in the hand -- that it's just WAY too unlikely for himher to have the card that beats me.

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There may only be one other person in the hand, but the reason he's in the hand (most of the time) is because he's got something too...or at least the possibility of something on the turn or river. The amount of people in the hand has little to no bearing on the quality of cards they have...thinking that it does will probably get you into trouble more often than not.

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I check the turn with him because he obviously has something he likes.

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I think here would have been a good time to bet into him again, and try to sell that you have the set of 3s. To me, him checking there indicates that he was scared of just that. If you bet and he calls or raises you back, you know that it might be worth your while to get out of the hand and reduce your losses.

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When the other J comes, I assume he played 2nd or 3rd button and is betting into me because he thinks i have overcards only.

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Unless you felt you had a good read on what type of player he is, it probably would have been best to assume at that point that he had the better hand. The fact that the only times he bet instead of called were when a Jack came up on the board (once on the flop, and then again on the river) should have told you something. Folding good hands sucks and is hard to do, but sometimes what you think is the best hand is only 2nd, and you gotta get out of the pot and stop the bleeding.

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I'm starting to think PP < K are only playable when you set them. Comments?

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I disagree with that, but you do have to be careful with PPs < KK. I've seen people go all the way to the river with pocket 2s and take the pot down. There are no set in stone rules for what to play and how to play it...there are guidelines, but for the most part you just gotta do what you feel is best at that time.

Also, don't forget that even a great starting hand is still just that...a great start. There are no guarantees in poker, even AA gets cracked its fair share of times. You have to be prepared to lay down the occasional monster and save your remaining chips for another hand.

I hope that was at least somewhat helpful. :D

Good luck at the tables. 8-)