So I found $200. I logged on to party and was going to deposit, but realized that I had left $200 in my account...like finding a $20 in your pocket...ten times.

So instead of depositing I decide I'm going to try to play the $200 into something useful. I sit down at 3 50 NL tables.

And there is this hand...

I have $51, MP has 39, button has us both covered.

I hold [8s] in the CO. A couple limpers to me and I limp. Button makes it $4, which is a pretty big raise for this table. folded to MP, who calls, and I call.

Pot $13. Flop is a lovely [8c][7d]. MP checks. I check -- I'm just SURE OR is going to bet. And I'm not really confident that my 88 is the best hand. And button bets $13. MP calls...and when MP calls I start to think that my set is good. Because I don't think MP is calling that PFR with KQs...so I really think MP has an ace, making it less likely that button has 2. And here's where it gets hokey...I min raise to $26. Now I've just got $20 behind, so I'm either winning this pot or going broke. I have no intention of folding. But I'm really trying hard to drag MP along in this pot...my logic is that if button just calls, then with 5-1 odds then MP is coming along too, and then I can push on the turn.

But that doesn't work. Button pushes, MP folds, I call. Turn is river is . Button has AK, no clubs. I scoop $117 pot.

Results not withstanding, how awful was my flop play?

I don't think you played it very badly at all.

I probably would have just pushed...a lot of draws out there so I want the money in now, but the min raise basically commits you anyways...so all your money is going in regardless.

No WAY do you fear AA here! Come on...set over set? No one bets that hard set-over-set anyway. Look, if you want to win big pots with sets you do NOT check-raise the flop!! You build big pots by betting the flop (and if you get raised then you can push the flop or call and wait for a non-flush turn before sticking it in)...and if they call then you just keep pounding the pot till it's all in by the river when they're getting 3:1 to call with TPTK or so. If you cr and he has AK then you give slightly observant (and better) players a perfect opportunity to get rid of TPTK - you just totally announced your hand. Do NOT get cute with suited boards and a guy check-calling a pot sized bet! You misplayed this hand brutally IMO.