Not Folding a Set to a Possible Flush

Last Sunday, I was in a tournament with blinds 50/100. I remember I had about 4k in chips. Player at middle position also had approximately 4k. At some point, he joined and then raised four times the BB. With 77, I called. Small and big blind then folded.

Flop came and brought 2d 3d 7c. Then I placed a very small bet and he on the other side called. Turn came and was Kc. I then placed a bet which was about the size of the pot he called. River card came and brought 10c. For about 3/4 the pot, I then bet and he went all in with approximately the size of my stack.

Later, after so many pondering stuff, I folded however putting him on something like Ac 3c first. However, some of my friends who were there said I should have called as my hand wasn’t obvious at all. But still I’ve learned from Dan Harrington’s book that you should not fold your set to a possible flush on the board. What’s on your thoughts?

Thanks!

Tyler Edwards
Tyler,

If you opponent did have a flush, then he played very poorly. My guess he most likely had a big pair, such as Aces. He may have had kings and turned a set of kings.

I don’t think I am folding my set there since the person would have had to catch runner-runner flush to beat me.

Playing PK Q’s

Hello,

In an online tourney I played recently, I faced a very terrible situation. I have to choose between the two: call but will let all other players see a flop or raise by which there’s a possibility of AA or KK ahead.

I want to ask, in early stages of an online tourney after a raise UTG as well as four callers, how would you play pk Q’s? Any idea?

Thanks in advance!

Daniel Ryncarz
Daniel,

Pocket queens are only behind to two hands preflop. I would make a strong reraise. This is a type of situation early in a tournament that you can go to war with since you usually have a strong advantage. While there is a possibility of kings or aces with the UTG raiser, they very well may have JJ, 10-10, or A-K.