I know it sounds self explanatory but I see the phrase `setmining at the micros` on a regular basis and just wandering what the strategies were behind this.
What is the difference between playing ABC and setmining?
I gather it is that at these levels most ppl will stack off with an overpair when you hit, but what is your strat pf?
Are you limping utg with 22 for example, or open limping/raising with 66 in MP?, how big a raise are you calling in LP with 55. Things like this I am interested to know. I am talking about full ring not 6 max.
Set mining usually refers to playing pocket pair a little looser than you normaly would to try and hit a set. For instance, if flat calling a 3bet with pocket 2s from the SB hoping to hit a 2 on the flop.
Usually set miners will be limping or flat calling to see a flop cheaply and then just folding if they miss. Whether or not this type of play is profitable is debatable.
Everyone plays pairs regardless of their style but 'set miners' are nits who play a very tight range. If you run into someone with a full stack & ~9% VIP these guys generally play: 22+ AQ+ AJs
The other meaning of set mining is to simply see a flop with a pair and fold if you do not make a set.
Your set is only going to come through for you 11.75% (8.5-1) of the time. So most of the time, you will be calling, seeing a flop, and folding. To make up for the money you lose doing this, you need to make a lot of money when you get a set. However, buying in short limits the implied odds (money you expect to make on later streets) you will get when you hit a set. For example, if a deepstack goes all in against you when you hit your set, you will only win 50bb opposed to 100bb if you had bought in full.
That being said, set mining seems to me to be most short stacker's main stratagey.
That being said, set mining seems to me to be most short stacker's main stratagey.
Not the good ones! Set mining is a self-defeating strategy for short stacks. Which is why complaints about short stackers at micro stakes are so misplaced.
At higher stakes, short stackers are far more sophisticated.
A short stacker might have a range of AT+ 88+ KQ and a set miner who buys in with 100BB plays 22+ AQ+ AJs, KQs or something similar to that.
Their VIPs are certainly similar but the SSer plays more broadway hands and fewer pocket pairs generally.
