Leading With Top Set Into Small Pot & Coordinated Board 60 BBs Deep

[Rick Nebiolo]

This hand comes from a 5/10 fixed buy ($400 or $500) NL game somewhere in LA. The game is good by traditional (pre boom) standards but tighter than most recent games given it just lost its loosest chip-spewing player. Naturally I’m on the change list. I’m $630 deep after re-buying once and have a very tight image, having only won one mid-sized pot in over two hours, seeing few flops, and generally releasing when the flop comes and I continually miss (I typically had four to six opponents on the flop so big bluffs didn’t seem wise).

The game is only moderately aggressive, with about 60% of flops being seen with no raise and the raise/reraise combo usually meaning a very big hand. Three half decent (for this game) players limp, one early, one middle, and one in late position. I complete with 88 in the SB. The BB checks his option. The pot is $45 after collection and jackpot drop.

The flop comes 8-7-5 rainbow. My four opponents have my remaining $620 covered.

Assuming my plan is to bet, how much should I bet (and why if you have time)?

Among the following lead bet sizes, rate them as very good, ok, bad, or terrible and once again explain why if you have time:

$40?

$70?

$100?

$150?

More?

Would anyone often try for a check raise here?

I think I made one of the worst choices so all help is appreciated.

~ Rick

PS Sorry I don’t post much anymore (a few years back I posted about every day on middle limit holdem). The forum is so huge I usually only have time to post mostly in the B&M forum and otherwise skim a few other forums. If this works out I’ll try to get back into posting on play here, possibly under a new posting name.