[lork]

i got dealt pocket 5's and the flop comes 356..ok so i have a set and i go all in for about $11..this kid calls me and he has only about $14 so hed be in trouble if he lost...it ends up the kid calls me on a freaking straight draw..anyways the turn is a 10 give him a pair im thinking im pretty good cuz he needs a 7 or a 2 for a straight..and then bam the 7 comes on the river...i was devastated why the hell would he call it with a draw..and what are the odds that 7 would come out?

[pritz]

I think you played it right. You should raise pre flop x3 the BB or there abouts. He just happened to get lucky. In the longrun you win.

Dont forget either raise or fold, dont limp in. If you do, you risk players seeing the flop for free/cheap and risk them getting a good draw. Play tight/aggressive or dont play at all is my strategy

[razor]

I ALWAYS limp in w/ pocket pairs if no set i dump them. Folding preflop to thin the field is overrated IMO, only time i raise preflop is w/ AK AQ. Either limp or allin is my advice to most if you are not skilled on postflop play.

[johnf]

I hope you weren't really devestated losing $11, especially since he had about a 1 in 3 chance of catching his straight (2.18:1 to be precise).

His call was not smart (unless there was more than $13 in the pot before the flop), but his catching one of his 8 outs in 2 cards was hardly a miracle.

[ballen]

Just my opinion but limping in is weak play. Either raise or fold. If you decide to play a hand play it aggressive not weak. Raise the BB x3

1)this makes people fold and you win the pot right there
2)someone will call you with a weaker hand and fold to you next raise
3)You will catch a good draw on the flop and be able to raise again
4)You get nothing on the flop, check and lose the hand
5)someone will re raise you and you can decide to fold or call

Its roughly a 1:4 chance that someone will catch something on the flop if they dont already have a pocket pair. The odds are in your favor if you play this way.

[ThomasR]

Your play was reasonable given the situation, but as johnf correctly pointed out, he had a chance and he desperately needed to take a pot or two to get back in the game.

He saw an opportunity and took it - sure he got a little lucky, but putting your balls on the line offers it's rewards too. This time it worked out, another time you'd have taken the pot and he'd be looking at his last dollar.