Hey Guys,

This hand is from $50NL

I have $50, MP has $80 and EP has $55

I get dealt [Kh] on BTN

EP makes it $1, MP calls $1, and I make it $4.50, and both call

flop [Kc][Td] pot :$15.25

EP checks, MP bets $5, I make it $20, EP folds, MP thinks, thinks, then folds.

Was that too big of a raise? I was so hoping he was leading into me with a set, but the bet was not big enough on his part. I think it was a blocking bet and he was drawing. Anybody play this different?

$15 is perhaps slightly better, but the difference is small.

You have to raise there. You have to charge the draws incorrect odds to chase. You will get called by a lower set or 2-pair. A smaller raise would not have been in order because the hands that would call a $15 raise will probably call $20 except for draws which you want to fold because it would be hard to fold that top set. By raising that much you can be sure all the draws our out (except for AKd or QJd). Those exception hands would probalby just push-all-in over the top of you anyways. So I like the bet... its just to bad nobody had a lower set or pushed with a flush draw like a numb-nuts.

The reason that we say 3x is usually because that's the min it takes to show them that you mean business, and it doesn't commit TOO many chips if they come over the top and you want to be able to fold (by betting 4x you may pot commit yourself or convince yourself into a call where you'd have folded had you bet 3x). I think you had to raise, and again, 3x is a great number.