Discuss a Poker Hand -- How Would You Play Bottom Set?

In this weekly series, CardPlayer.com and the Card Player Pro poker video training site (powered by PokerSavvy Plus) are giving you a free, full-length training video. In each article, we will highlight a particularly interesting hand from that video that features unconventional play, and we will ask for your opinions on the hand.

Tell us what you think and how you’d play this week’s hand in the comments below.

Title: Limping In From Early Position in Cash Games

Coach: Andrew “Foucault” Brokos

Video Description:

In this week’s free, full-length poker strategy video for Card Player Pro, poker professional Andrew “Foucault” Brokos teaches you when to limp from early position in no-limit hold’em cash games. He teaches you which hands are best to limp with from early position, which hands you should avoid, and discusses whether it’s better to raise or limp when first to act. He focuses on teaching a tight early-position strategy, which allows you to make easier decisions after the flop and win more pots. This strategy is equally effective whether playing live in a casino or online.

Discussion Point:

Tough Decision with a Set on a Draw-Heavy Board

A highlight of the video comes at the 31:30 mark, when Andrew reviews an interesting spot with pocket threes. In a $10-$20, nine-handed no-limit Texas hold’em game, Andrew limps in with 3 3 as first to act. The player to his immediate left (with a $1,558 stack) raises to $60. Two additional players call the raise, and Andrew elects to call the extra $40. Andrew covers all players with $2,260 in front of him.

Flop: A 3 8, giving Andrew bottom set.

However, with three other players in the pot and several draws on the board that could ruin Andrew’s big hand, how do you think he should play his set of threes? Should he lead out for a big bet to protect his hand? Should he check and try and slow-play?

Watch now to see how Andrew played his set as part of this free, full-length training video.

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