AJ in position with flopped set

[revolvingiris]

How would you play this? I displayed whole HH because my question is geared at the entire hand. I could fold PF but I didn't completely know where I was at...

PokerStars Game #20314583436: Tournament #106780476, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (200/400) - 2008/09/11 2:24:41 ET
Table '106780476 160' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: bsd223 (6425 in chips)
Seat 2: supaski3z (10421 in chips)
Seat 3: NLEastChamp5 (12834 in chips)
Seat 4: tazshane (8025 in chips)
Seat 5: James Brody (6035 in chips)
Seat 6: azcarguy23 (13976 in chips)
Seat 7: jamicord (4457 in chips)
Seat 8: triks (3260 in chips)
Seat 9: revolvingIRS (9501 in chips)
bsd223: posts the ante 50
supaski3z: posts the ante 50
NLEastChamp5: posts the ante 50
tazshane: posts the ante 50
James Brody: posts the ante 50
azcarguy23: posts the ante 50
jamicord: posts the ante 50
triks: posts the ante 50
revolvingIRS: posts the ante 50
bsd223: posts small blind 200
supaski3z: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to revolvingIRS [Ad Js]
NLEastChamp5: folds
tazshane: folds
James Brody: folds
azcarguy23: raises 400 to 800
jamicord: folds
triks: folds
revolvingIRS: calls 800
bsd223: folds
supaski3z: calls 400
*** FLOP *** [Ah 9s Ac]
supaski3z: checks
azcarguy23: checks
revolvingIRS: checks
*** TURN *** [Ah 9s Ac] [4d]
supaski3z: bets 800
azcarguy23: calls 800
revolvingIRS: calls 800
*** RIVER *** [Ah 9s Ac 4d] [3c]
supaski3z: checks
azcarguy23: bets 1600
revolvingIRS: calls 1600
supaski3z: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
azcarguy23: shows [Td Tc] (two pair, Aces and Tens)
revolvingIRS: shows [Ad Js] (three of a kind, Aces)
revolvingIRS collected 8650 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8650 | Rake 0
Board [Ah 9s Ac 4d 3c]
Seat 1: bsd223 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: supaski3z (big blind) folded on the River
Seat 3: NLEastChamp5 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: tazshane folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: James Brody folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: azcarguy23 showed [Td Tc] and lost with two pair, Aces and Tens
Seat 7: jamicord folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: triks folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: revolvingIRS (button) showed [Ad Js] and won (8650) with three of a kind, Aces

[Sprayed]

You flop trips not a set. I'm not a big fan of calling raises with AJo preflop unless you have a read on the guy. I think the hand was played ok post.

[revolvingiris]

Sorry for the "trips...set" typo. I called for position and because I thought I was ahead. I didnt want to raise because there was a chance he would come over the top and I could have to then lay down. AZ was a very loose player and was raising with a lot of doggy hands...I feel like I lost value on the river, but I wasnt 100% sure if he had AQ-AK. AJ is a good hand against villains range.

[chardrian]

Calling in position against a minraise is fine.

I lead the flop as that is what you are expected to do in position and someone might play back at you.

[drmcboy]

If you can't bet/raise somewhere folding pre seems best.

[revolvingiris]

If you can't bet/raise somewhere folding pre seems best.

It was more of a position call then anything else. None the less, I don't see how you should ALWAYS be either raising/betting or folding pre.

[chardrian]

That's not what he said.

He said if you can't fold/bet somewhere during that hand (i.e. postflop) that folding pre seems best.

It is a standard "beginner" mistake to call when you are unsure where you are at - the problem is calling doesn't define your hand any better.

[drmcboy]

yeah I mean I admit this isn't a PERFECT flop, but it's pretty darn good and we can't even raise ever. It's like drawing with a pair on the board. If you had 98 you'd felt any time you had trips.

[revolvingiris]

That's not what he said.

He said if you can't fold/bet somewhere during that hand (i.e. postflop) that folding pre seems best.

It is a standard "beginner" mistake to call when you are unsure where you are at - the problem is calling doesn't define your hand any better.

I called because it seemed to tight to fold pf (against these villains) and I had position....I called because I wanted to see a flop with the hand. I didn't raise because if he would come over the top. I would have had to have folded. Which IMO is a waste of chips.

[chardrian]

You are having 2 fundamental errors right now:

1) You aren't understanding what we are saying. No one is saying that calling preflop is NECESSARILY bad. What we are saying is that IF you call here preflop and then don't have the heart/balls/fortitude to raise or bet on this board postflop THEN you should probably just fold pre. POSTFLOP you SHOULD have bet or raised at some point.

2) You are posting a hand for advice - and then refusing to consider it. That's your perogative, but it tends to make good players who are actually willing to dispense advice less willing to do so in the future.

[mcatdog]

Having the balls to make value bets with weak hands (which you'd have to fold if someone came over the top) isn't a waste of chips. It's actually the number one thing that distinguishes good players from average ones.

This hand isn't even a weak hand, it's a borderline monster. At least raise the river since you have the best hand 100% of the time.

[revolvingiris]

I think I was just misunderstanding what it is you all were saying. I'm not trying to justify my play. I posted the hand here because I was completely lost on it....So what I should have done is bet SOMEWHERE (most notably post flop).

Again, sorry if I came off as "failing to consider". I know ALL of you know what you are talking about