Bet or slowplay?

[Javanewt]

10-handed, $25NL at UB

First hand at table.

I post in middle position with 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

UTG limps

Folds to me, I raise to $1.25

Fold to UTG who calls

Flop 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

UTG checks

Hero?

[raistlinx]

Bet

[D.L.M.]

no, dont slow play in position with that board, you slow play oop most times and go for a c/r

[KurtSF]

Bet.

Jeezum crow, what would you be waiting for? Hope he puts on a c/r and try to get it all in. Besides, there's a million and a half draws out, so no free cards, mmmkay.

[kurto]

If you're ever going to slowplay, its not on a board with a 2 cards to a flush. And if he has something like a flush draw, lower set or an overpair... you're not going to make a nice pot by checking.

I think you have to ask yourself... if you would raise with AK and make a cont. bet with nothing, why would you bet nothing when you have something?

People expect you to bet and so you should.

So many reasons to bet. Almost no good reason to slowplay here.

[Javanewt]

Very good points, especially the one about continuation betting, which I almost always do. I mix it up sometimes, but they don't know that because it's my first hand.

I'll admit that I slow played. If he had a flush draw, so be it. That's the only thing I thought I could have been worried about, but I seem to lose a lot of money fearing flushes, so I didn't want to do it here.

Forgot to add that I had $25 and Villain had only $9.65.

Turn: 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Villain bets $2.85

Hero?

[raistlinx]

I think now you can slow play it on the turn. Villain might have an over pair and fire again on the river, or you can put out a value bet if he doesn't. On the other hand putting in a small raise now might get him pot committed.

The point is now that you have a boat there aren't many cards to come that will give him the best hand. With the set there was.

[Albert Moulton]

Bet! Make like you have AK/AQ/AJ and bet. Don't be surprised if you get check raised by some mid-sized overpair like TT, or a combo-draw, or 2-pair, or whatever.

Taking a free card here is really bad because a heart will kill all your action UNLESS villain has the flush - in which case, you are now the underdog having to call a big bet without good odds to try and fill up by the river.

You don't even have a 9h.

Bet the pot.

[Javanewt]

Don't even know why I posted the turn. I should have bet the flop. That's all I really wanted to know. Thanks for making it clear. I need to remember to continuation bet. I kind of forgot about it because it was my first hand at the table and I was so thrilled to see the set. I didn't want to scare the villain away.

Also, a friend and I were debating slowplaying this situation. He won.

I do wonder about flush draws, though. I do seem to lose a lot being scared of them. Must be a big leak.

BTW, river was a 9. Poor villain had 22. He was doomed no matter what. Only wish he had more behind.

[Cry Me A River]

Here's my philosophy on slowplay.

If you're ever in a situation where you have to wonder, "Should I slowplay" the answer is "No". If it's ever close, or if you are unsure of how to proceed you want to err on the side of betting. Slowplay, particularly at small stakes where most players are very straightforeward and/or very bad, is a precision tool and if you're not sure now is the right time to slowplay then do not slowplay.

In this case, it's not close, as has been amply covered in this thread.