Set Over Set
Set over set is a situation in which two players both flop a set, and one has the higher set. The player with the lower set is in a very bad position, since he is almost certain to lose.
The simple explanation
For example, you hold two fives and your opponent holds two deuces. The flop is 5-2-A. You both have a set, but yours is bigger, and you win unless the opponent hits the one remaining deuce for a full house, or the board pairs with a better one.
A closer look
Set over set is a classic cooler: a very strong hand loses a lot of money to an even stronger hand, and nobody can really be blamed. The player with the smaller set has only a few outs, usually a full house or four of a kind. It shows that even sets are not safe, especially on boards with several high cards where players with high pairs may have a bigger set.
A practical example
You hold 9♣ 9♦ and your opponent holds 5♥ 5♠. The flop is 9♥ 5♣ 2♦. You have a set of nines against a set of fives.
Full explanation
Set over set is a situation in which two players both flop a set, and one has the higher set. The player with the lower set is in a very bad position, since he is almost certain to lose.
Set over set means that two players both have a set, one higher than the other.
The lower set is almost sure to lose.
It is a typical cooler.
The lower set needs a full house or quads.
Alternative spelling: set-over-set
Set over set
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of clubs (9c)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 55 of hearts (5h)55 of spades (5s) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of clubs (9c)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 55 of hearts (5h)55 of spades (5s) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of clubs (9c)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 55 of hearts (5h)55 of spades (5s) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Both players flop a set: nines for Player A and fives for Player B. The bigger set wins. This is set over set.
Board: 99 of hearts (9h)55 of clubs (5c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of clubs (9c)99 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 55 of hearts (5h)55 of spades (5s) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.