Free Poker Guide - How To Read Set Hands

Regardless of if you only play free poker online or play for that highest stakes imaginable a Set is one of the most unreadable hands in Texas Hold'em.

A Set comprises of a pocket pair plus one of several Community cards which includes exactly the same rank as the pocket pair.

For example, for those who have 4-4 as well as the Community cards are 5-4-10-J-K, you have a Set of Fours.

Sets are unreadable since most players are accustomed to reading (a) two different hole cards, (b) high cards or overpairs, (c) draws that complete the Board, or (d) cards anyway associated with the Board cards.

Our hand reading habits generally a variety of limiting possible hands on the given characteristics of the board/community. How would you put someone on 5-5 or 4-4 if it's less difficult to place him on A-K (for top pair, best kicker), A-Q (for the made Straight), or K-10 or 5-4 (for Two-Pair), or perhaps A-A (a higher pair)?

Sometimes you may also put him on one Five, say, 6-5. But on two Fives or two Fours? This is why Sets are very potent in Boards without any Straight or Flush potential.

However, suppose in the Flop of Q-7-2 without having Straight or Flush possibilities, you've got 2-2. You check (seeking to trap him), the opposite player bets. You raise all in then he immediately calls and reveals Q-Q. You thought your opponent had A-Q or K-Q. How is this possible? It's possible. Even in this spot you are more susceptible.

Because there isn't any Straight or Flush potentials your opponent will fold cards that didn't fit into the Board cards. If you read hands according to the criteria above, you could possibly put your attacker on A-Q, K-Q, or even Q-7 (are you able to go as far as 7-2?!).

Here because you are the one who moved all-in, the results from the hand is not fully on your own control; it's around whether your opponent calls or otherwise.

But think the situation is reversed. The player with all the Q-Q checks, you bet, then the solution is a raise all-in. How would you act?

When you're slammed inside a situation this way (which often occurs on the Flop) with a cash game, get it as it's. Pay him off. Some other time you should have the Q-Q, another player will have the 2-2, and you'll be paid back.

But in a very tournament, you have many givens to think about (and you may want to take into account these even just in an ordinary cash game). Compare your stack sizes in accordance with the other. If the difference is fantastic, expect among you to put his chips in the center.

A Set may be the best hand both of you can have to get a double-up. If you possess the smaller Set get eliminated, attribute it to bad luck. However, assuming both of you've stacks above chip average, and you're put to a choice costing you all or virtually all your chips. You have 2-2. You're not probably be blinded out in the few hands.

You might want to reason out:

I possess a Set.


He raised me enough to put me all-in, or almost.


He may do it with Q-7.


And whether your opponent had Q-7 or not depends on what went down preflop.


If no raise occurred it could be with Q-7, and you also can safely call.


Whether your opponent had 7-7 you aren't could also are categorized as similar scrutiny


Or if there is a raise, it may be with A-Q.

Now, top pair, top kicker is a weak hand to risk an above-average stack.

And there is no Straight and Flush incoming, so the all-in could be made only with an especially strong hand. It might be also with A-A or with K-K (almost certainly it can be) however it might be also just with Q-Q.

If I put him on those three hands, there's a 2/3 chance I'm right, but a 1/3 possibility of wrong, then when I'm wrong I will be busted. So I'll fold.

If you possess the guts Set (Set of Sevens), the identical analysis could also apply.

But you will end up much safer as there is only one Set to kill you instead from the two possible Sets not long ago. If you possess the Set of Queens, enjoy!

The above analysis is agonizing and poker88 painstaking, specially when all of it comes from giving up one of the most valued hands in Hold'Em.

Reading Sets In summary

It takes serious amounts of figure out how to read hands, it's not something the unthinking donk "chip flingers" seen on many free poker tables even consider.

Most players it seems like can't or won't position the period in, they promise to try out for entertainment which misses out around the key idea that winning big money is often a lot more fun!

I think it's crazy that so many people have fun with so little skill and almost enjoy the fact! But re-decorating very good news in your case as one of the few that's learning to experience well.

That's because once you know to try out poker with above average skill and so are capable to combat the "all-in-all the time" donk maniacs you'll be able to bring them apart in coldly calculated massacres when you like.