Slow playing trips?

Great strategies on here, and great forums (I actually like them better than 2+2).

On one of the threads, someone mentioned that newbies like to slow-play trips. Well, I'm a newbie who's proving that person right.

Let's take a recent example. I've got 77, I check into the flop after I hit the set, then call to someone who hit their pair of aces. I finally start raising when a second limper hits their pair of kings on the turn. River was something low and then I called the AA's all-in (can't remember if KK called or not), taking down a $46 pot on a $25 NL table at PP.

It seems to me that slow-playing was the best bet (literally) since I dragged them along and made them think their pairs were best. I understand the concern is that one of them could have had pocket AA or KK, but it was pretty obvious from how they were betting that they didn't...

So would a more experienced player just try to take down the pot as soon as they hit their set? Is that more profitable in the long run.

Thanks in advance for the advice...

Well for me it all depends. My bets vary considerably depending on the flop. If there is a flush threat I will always bet more. A likely straight threat I will always bet more. If my trips are the high trips I will be much more likely to slow play them. I will still be reraising people small to get more money and keep them in the hand. There is just so much that depends on the flop. There isnt a set way that I play trips. I am significantly more careful when I hit like trip 2s-7s with all the cards on the board being higher. In that situation I will always initiate a bet to feel out where people are with their own hands. Usually a couple bucks depending on the flop. I guess this wasnt much of an answer but it just depends so much on the circumstances. And yeah you just have to think of the preflop action and analyze it with what flopped. I would never be worried about AA or KK being the hand if there wasnt anything more 1 dollar preflop. I had my friend go all in with middle trips after the flop and he got one caller that was actually on low trips. Be careful with the lowest trips but you will still usually win. Just dont be calling extreme bets.

I pretty much agree with what Boondock said.

If I flop a set, I look for possible draws -- straights and flushes. If I see two cards to either of these draws on the flop, I will try to finish it here with a bet larger than the pot.

But if I don't see such a draw possible, I will usually check or call to the turn. On the turn, I will almost always try to finish it with a huge bet. I have been outdrawn when flopping a set too many times to not try to take it down as soon as possible.

Again, as Boondock said, other factors play into these decisions and nothing is ever concrete. For example, if there was a pre-flop bet, the bettor and any callers possibly have pocket pairs and may also flop a set, so be cautious of higher trips if yours is not the highest possible on the flop.

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apparently there is a saying for trips which goes

"if your set gets beat and you didnt lose much money, you didnt play them right"

I think the general consensus is to play them fast, if its a rainbow you can prolly give 1 card. I'll always play them fast unless i'm setting a trap.

I got busted twice in one night w/ trips. Party poker sucks! Once I slowplayed and did not lose too much. The second time was a bad bad bad beat and I dropped an entire $45 stack.

Example 1: Dealt to me QQ. Flop a set of on the flop w/ 2 spades. Make a pot sized bet. Called. Playing multiple tables so I hit the check button on turn by accident. Gave away free card and dude made his flush on river. My fault in the end. Only lost a little. Lesson learned.

Example2: Dealt to me KK in early position. Raise $2-3. 2 callers. Flopped set of K w/ 2 hearts (no overcards no pairs). Bet $10. One fold, one call. Heads up. River is blank. I bet $15 (I have the nuts at this point). Opponent reraised me all in. I call. Flop comes w/ the third heart. Opponent showed 10 8h. I lost about $45.