NL2 - Playing set?!

Bet!
It is important to bet for two reasons. One is to get value, though to be fair, you were able to get all the money in at the end anyways (you're very short stacked). The second reason is protect your hand. The three other players could have a lot of hands from diamond draws to the straight draw that killed you. They could have even limped with pocket fours and if you give them a free chance to see the turn, it's possible they'll make a full house. There is no reason to slow-play.

Out of curiosity, why did you bet the River when you checked down the flop and turn?

Bet the flop and let other players make mistakes. Giving free cards is too dangerous.

Also, just to clarify, a set is a pocket pair that makes three of a kind. Two community cards makes a non-set three of a kind.

Good luck!

first of all, hello and welcome to the pokerstrategy forums! we hope that you enjoy your stay and find the content useful.

this is the big stack strategy hand evaluation board. we have another board for short and mid stack evaluations.

that said, i'll have a go at it since this is not a too difficult hand.

first things first, in typical short stack strategy you either raise or fold preflop and this should be a fold.
A8 offsuit is a fairly weak hand as you can't hit a lot of very good hands with it and when you hit a pair and get action it will often be dominated.

as it went you happened to hit one of the few very good flops for your hand, but a lot of draws are possible - straight draws, flush draws.
with 3 other players in the pot you definitely must bet, and bet strongly, to avoid giving cheap cards to draws.
bet potsize on the flop and get the rest in the turn.

as it happened the turn is already a very bad card that completes some flushes and straights, and on the river any ten makes a straight.
so, as played, when he raises on the river you only beat a bluff.

however, you "deserved" to be outdrawn for not betting yourself before.

You are right, some things are to be learned hard mode=through practice. +1 experience.
I'll definitely study the info in the links, thank you for taking the time to answer to my thread