How to Maximize Quads?

Check this hand out from early in Venetian’s deep stack event last Saturday. I don’t think I maximized here, so input would sure be appreciated.

Nearing the end of the first blind level, we were nine-handed when I called a pre-flop raise from the cutoff with pocket eights. I flopped a set, but there were some draws on the board, so I tripled his bet and he called. The turn gave me another eight for quads and we both checked. I was really hoping he would catch up and/or bet the river. He checked to me on the river, but for some reason I got the impression that he wanted me to bet. The flush card and straight cards had both come and I was pretty sure he wanted to check-raise me. So I thought the most correct play would be a small bet so he could stick to his plan. But the more I looked at him, the stronger he convinced me he was. So I decided to go out on a limb and overbet the pot. Maybe he would check-raise me all in. He sat there for at least five minutes and finally folded. I was surprised no one called the clock on him. I really don’t know what he had, but I just know that he thought I had nothing at all.

Should I have played this differently? Does anyone have any good input here?

lol...I read your post before looking at the date of the original post. I was thinking "Scott gets around, cause I know he was in Lima Saturday"...

Tough call. He probably thought so much he convinced himself you had the quads. A smaller bet may have got him to do what you had expected.

Its hard to say what he was thinking or what be he would have called and what bet he might have raised. I probably would have bet smaller just to be safe and to try to make sure I make something. I have even been known to have a full house or quads and put my opponent on a flush draw and when it hits I will say something like " As sure as God made little green apples you hit that flush". And then bet anyway only to see them raise or go all in and then I show them the nuts. Its dirty I know but its amazing how many people fall for something like that.

For me I almost never slow play big hands like this. To get more money in on this one can be done in many different ways. A very aggressive play would be to re-raise before the flop. A lot of players won't make this play, but to me this play is perfect early on in a tourney. Late in the tourney I don't risk the chips, but early is a different story. So lets look at this play in comparison. Ok you said it was the first level so I'm assuming 25/50. He makes it 150 to go in middle position and you call the pot is 375, and you've shown no real strength here. Also you probably have not to much of a table image. So any high card board he's probably very likely to bet it, and put you to a tough decision early. Pretty much your going to end up throwing this hand away most of the time. If you don't flop a set you'll probably lose a small pot, or if you get unlucky and get some weird board like 9-7-5 rainbow you might lose a big one. On the other hand if you make a small re-raise before the flop, let's from 150 to 375, your going to gain better position and information. As well as build a bigger pot. Just calling makes the pot 375, by re-raising the pot is 825. It will actually make your decision easier in many ways. Now if he throws out a big C bet on an unfavorable flop it's an easy fold. The positive of the big pot is that's it's so much easier to bust him. The betting will now make that happen. If he has a big pair and decides to check raise you, you call with the set or fold to an unfavorable board. Easy choices. An other positive of the big pot is you will be able to bring a lot more pressure if he plays the flop passively. You'll actually increase the number of flops that are good for you. If he raised with some semi strong hand like Aq,Aj,Kq or Kj. Even if he has a better pair like 10's or J's. The flop comes Ak9 rainbow. If has any of those hands here it's going to be tough for him to call 750. PERFECT SITUATION: Player one raises from 50 to 150 with pocket J's. The cutoff makes it 375 to go, and everyone folds back to player one who calls. The Flop comes:10s::8s::7h:. Player one checks, the cutoff bets 750. Player one thinks and decides that the pot is now big enough to try to take down. Realizes that he must protect his hand from the spades out there, Counts his remaining chips and says"I'm all-in." AHhh yes, let me introduce you to my friend the rail. "I call"