The Set Mine

I'm glad to be back online and playing again. My new computer has Office so it was a breeze getting my database and spreadsheet back up. I'm glad about that.

In micro stakes no limit cash set mining is highly profitable. A set is a very strong hand and it is especially valuable when opponents will overplay 1 and 2 pair hands and put a lot of money in when they are way behind.

The willingness to stack off with an overpair or TPTK combined with deep NL cash game stacks makes it profitable to call preflop raises with small to mid pairs. If you flop a set then you can often get it all in for a big hand. If you don't flop a set then just check/fold the flop and move on. The implied odds from spiking a set make it worth calling a preflop raise for set value.

In this example I was fortunate to get into a wild loose $5 NL cash game. By set mining I was able to turn $5.39 into $24.34 at this table.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (3 handed)

Hero ($5.39)
SB ($12.07)
BB ($22.23)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Tc, Td.
Hero raises to $0.20, SB calls $0.18, BB calls $0.15.

Flop: ($0.60) Th, 3c, 7h (3 players)
SB bets $0.10, BB calls $0.10, Hero calls $0.10.

Turn: ($0.90) 7d (3 players)
SB bets $0.30, BB raises to $0.60, Hero calls $0.60, SB calls $0.30.

River: ($2.70) Kd (3 players)
SB bets $0.50, BB folds, Hero raises to $4.49, SB calls $3.99.

Final Pot: $11.68

Results:
Hero has Tc Td (full house, tens full of sevens).
SB has 9s Kh (two pair, kings and sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins $11.68.

In this first hand the table went short but I stuck around figuring it would fill again. The opponents were terrible making wacky bets and raises with nothing and calling all ins with like bottom pair. I let the donkey bet it out and shoved the river in position, hoping he'd call and he did. It was great flopping the set of 10s since he'd pay off with top pair.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (7 handed)

Button ($12.29)
Hero ($10.37)
BB ($4.50)
UTG ($4.85)
MP1 ($5)
MP2 ($18.50)
CO ($9.99)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8s, 8h.
2 folds, MP2 raises to $0.20, 1 fold, Button calls $0.20, Hero calls $0.18, BB raises to $0.35, MP2 calls $0.15, Button calls $0.15, Hero calls $0.15.

--> I called the raise figuring I'd get paid off if I hit a set. SB is the same fellow I doubled off in the hand above. Of course he makes a donk min 3bet, keeping me priced in. MP2 should have shoved over the min 3bet. He's way ahead of donkey's range.

Flop: ($1.40) 8c, 7s, Kd (4 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $0.25, MP2 raises to $2.2, Button folds, Hero calls $2.20, BB calls $1.95.

--> Flopped the set. I checked figuring BB or the original raiser would be active. I just called hoping BB would 3bet all in. No matter all the money's going in on the turn anyway.

Turn: ($8) Ts (3 players)
Hero bets $7.82 (All-In), BB calls $1.95 (All-In), MP2 calls $7.82.

River: ($13.85) 8d (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $25.59

Results below:
Hero has 8s 8h (four of a kind, eights).
BB has Qh Kh (two pair, kings and eights).
MP2 has Ac Ks (two pair, kings and eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $25.59.

Nice, a 500 BB pot at $5 NL. My first $20 pot.

Trying out tournaments

I'm getting myself back online now after a short time away. I'll be moving in some new directions including spending more time on big multi table tournaments. I'll have more to write about it in the coming weeks. I've been playing in the Stars Grey Cup freeroll which has been fun and I'll also be playing in the Stars bloggers tournament.

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 5675536

It should have a good overlay and hopefully I'll have a good run.