FLOPPING A SET IN TEXAS HOLDEM
From time to time I will play small pocket pairs. When you play these small pockets you need to set rules. These rules are pretty simple and you need to follow them all of the time if you are going to be a winning player.
If you hit on the flop you can continue to play the hand and you will be richly rewarded. However if you do not hit your set on the flop give up the hand to any bet. This is very important because many times you may call the first bet and feel obligated to then call the turn and then the river as well because you have enough money invested that you feel that you must then call their value bet.
Now when you hit your little set you will need to push the action and apply pressure so that you will force your flush draws and your straight draw out of your pot. When I flop a set I will make a pot sized bet if the pot is big enough if it is not I will bet at least 20% of my chip stack. This will insure that all but the best hands will fold.
Now I either drag the pot or I am down to one or two players and on the turn you will apply as much pressure as you can to either force them all in or make them fold. Pressure is the key to not only making the most of a hand like this but forcing your opponents to make a tough decision.