Playing a Set

[UG]

I sat down at a NL100 table tonight that was unreal. 55% of players to the flop, average pot of $51 (not counting uncalled bets). It was ridiculous. On every hand it seemed like there was at least one all-in. Top pair (regardless of kicker) was golden at this table. I saw two bizarre all-in *CALLS* (on two different hands) with king-high and ace-high (they ended up getting PWNED). People were cold-calling raises all the way around the table with absolute POOP (if they saw one card with paint, they were playing it). I knew that if I could just catch a hand I'd easily double up at a table like this...

Then I ran into this hand. With the described action above, and my commentary on the hand, please tell me how I could have played this hand better. I will show the results sometime tomorrow.

MP1 ($45)
Ultimate George ($97)
MP3 ($98)

Cards dealt to Ultimate George

MP1 raises $2.50, Ultimate George calls, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls. Pot = $15.00

Flop :Jh:

SB checks, BB checks, MP1 raises $20, Ultimate George calls $20, Button calls $20, SB folds, BB folds.

Okay, so here's what I'm thinking. I put MP1 on high pockets and/or AJ. He definitely doesn't have a set, so I am destroying him right now. I don't want to scare off other callers/raisers, so I just call, hoping to build the pot so I can take down a monster. The board is a rainbow, but it does have J9 on it, so I guess I can be a little afraid of TQ here calling behind me...but I'm willing to take that chance that something hits. Somebody could have hit their J9 here, but this table seemed to call any/every bet only with high cards, so I didn't peg him for that. I guess somebody could be on KQ here looking for a gutshot, but I'm hoping that's not the case and that it won't hit anyway.

Turn :Td:

MP1 raises $22.50 (and is all in), Ultimate George raises to $45, Button calls $45.

Okay, so this is somewhat of a scary card, considering somebody could have been searching for the gutshot. I raise for reasons which I don't know, but he calls anyway. I'm now thinking I could be behind to a king-high straight, so I'm looking to pair the board on the river.

River

Ultimate George raises $29.50 (and is all-in), Button calls $29.50.

Final Pot $243.75

At this point, I'm either way ahead of everyone, or somebody just hit their miracle card to turn two-pair into a bigger full house. Automatic push.

Now, is my play bad here? Again, I wasn't worried about the initial raiser, I knew I had him smoked (he'd never raise a set of jacks like that). The button has me worried. Should I have just played for the initial raisers stack ($45), or should I go for the home run and try to take down as many people as I can down with this hand, and thus, win a MONSTER pot?

Shower me with praise or destroy my play, please. (Fnord, tell me what you REALLY think )

[Fnord]

I would play it the same pretty much.

[UG]

I would play it the same pretty much.

Even with three players left to act behind you? You're not protecting your set here against an OESD or a gutshot draw? These dudes were crazy calling stations, hunting flushies and straights the 8-9 hands I saw this table play.

The reason I'm not protecting my set here is becasue I'm looking for the big payday. MP1 has already told me, "I am going to give you all of my money," so I'm wanting others...are these just the risks you take to build a monster pot?

[Fnord]

Meh, I probably raise and hope to get it all in HU vs a draw, but you did what you did...

[ilikeaces86]

raise the flop to 50

[DoGGz]

I would play it the same pretty much.

Even with three players left to act behind you? You're not protecting your set here against an OESD or a gutshot draw? These dudes were crazy calling stations, hunting flushies and straights the 8-9 hands I saw this table play.

The reason I'm not protecting my set here is becasue I'm looking for the big payday. MP1 has already told me, "I am going to give you all of my money," so I'm wanting others...are these just the risks you take to build a monster pot?

If this is bodog like i think it is, then you played perfectly. If you lost here just shrug

[EricE]

You have GOT to be happy to be AI with a boat. If a better boat beat you thats just poker.

[UG]

Results:

MP1 shows :Js: :As:
Ultimate George shows
Button shows :Jd: :Kd:

Ultimate George collects $246 with a full house, twos over nines.

So again, my reads were solid here that people overvalued TPTK and TPGK. I could have isolated against the smaller stack, but I went for the home run here and it paid off with a huge pot.

[TalentedTom]

cant really blame them, they both had top pair, from a donks point of view this is the nuts and they are taking a bad beat.

[salt3d]

Heh, you're so sypmathetic, Tom. I could just imagine you saying 'poor little fishies' in a really cute voice.