PokerCoaching.com Quiz: Turning A Set

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You are nine-handed in a $320 buy-in online tournament. The blinds are 200-400 with a 400 big blind ante. Everyone folds to the lojack who raises to 880 out of a 13,766 stack. The action folds to you on the button with 4 4 with a 16,492 stack.

Question 1: Should you fold, call, or reraise to 2,500?

Answer: Whenever you have more than 10 times your opponent’s raise amount and are sitting with a small or medium pocket pair, calling is usually the best option. If stack sizes were smaller, folding or going all-in may become the best play. In this spot though, the stacks are deep enough that you can call and try to flop a set.

You call and everyone folds around to the big blind who three-bets to 2,100. The original raiser calls and action is back to you. The pot size is now 5,730.

Question 2: Should you fold, call, or go all-in?

Answer: The three-bet is a little on the small side. You only have to call 1,220 with remaining stacks of roughly 12,000. So again, everyone has about 10 times the size of the last bet, allowing you to call and try to flop a set.

While folding and conserving chips may be tempting, calling risks little to potentially win a ton, which is how you build a big stack in poker tournaments.

You call. The flop comes A 8 2 and both opponents check to you.

Question 3:  Should you check, bet 2,000, or bet 4,000?

Answer: Always stop to consider your opponents’ ranges and how they would play them on this flop. The big blind probably wouldn’t want to bet K-K thru 9-9 because if they get called or raised, they will be in a tough spot. If the lojack had a medium-strength hand, they probably would not want to play a big pot either. The big blind could have checked A-K or A-Q for deception. If the lojack had an ace, they may want to check to see what develops. Although both of your opponents could be looking to check/fold, you should check and opt to play a small pot that you will usually lose.

You decide to check, and the turn is the 4, giving you a set. The big blind checks again. The lojack bets 2,000.

Question 4: Should you fold, call, or go all-in?

Answer: You have now turned a great hand, the fourth strongest possible on this board. You have a bet in front of you and a player to act behind. Going all-in shows incredible strength and may deter your opponents from putting more money in the pot. So, the only play here is to call, forcing both your opponents to stay in the pot, giving them a chance to lose more money on the river.

You decide to call. The big blind shoves all-in and the lojack calls.

You could be up against A-A or 8-8, or both could have A-X. You have to put in another 10,000 to win 44,000, so folding is out of the question.

You call. The big blind shows 9 9 for a total blunder and the lojack shows A 10.

The river is the 6 and you scoop a massive 44,022 chip pot. ♠

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