Set - value bet or check behind against 4 opponents and drawy board

[JJNJustin]

There are all kinds of lines and reasoning why you could play this hand the way you did or another way.

The benefits to checking behind on the turn are you avoid having to pay two bets when behind. The disadvantages are you give a free card miss money when you are ahead.

The paradox about this situation is that the more players in, the more money you stand to win by betting, but the more likely someone has drawn a flush and that you are actually behind. The less players in, the less likely you are behind, but the less money you stand to make by betting, and the more you will lose theoretically, if behind.

So as you can see, this is usually a close decision. The factors I use to swing me one way or another are: in the absence of any other information, always bet and call a raise. If you pick up tells that indicate someone is trapping, and if that tell seems genuine, and the players are better caliber and know that you will usually bet, and if there arent many players, consider checking. However, if the players are poor and exhibiting alot of fake out moves, usually always bet. Checking the best hand here against more than two opponents is probably more of a mistake then betting the second best hand with a redraw to improve to the best hand.

As far as your river check, I think this is pretty bad. You have a whole field checking to you twice and you have a very good hand. I would bet everytime. Nobody with a hand that beats you is going to risk checking it thru on the river, unless they are total timid types that would check a flush or straight twice. Unless you see some of these types in the lineup, always bet.

-J