Set Mining Against an Over Pair
Apr 22, 2008By: PokerPeaker THE SITUATION -
I'm at a full ring .25/.50 NL cash game on Ultimate Bet. I'm dealt 10♥-10♠. I have about $55. I call, along with four others, before the Big Blind raises 7xs the blind to $3.50. The Big Blind has $150, so he's hit some hands.
I call.
WHY DID I DO WHAT I DID HERE?
This is almost always one of three things when your opponent makes such a big raise in the Big Blind after a bunch of limpers have called:
1. Your opponent has a big pair.
2. Your opponent is making a move to pick up the pot.
3. Your opponent has something like A-K and wants to narrow the field.
I'm ahead in two of these situations.
Usually, at these levels, a player willing to raise that much has a big pair. I'm behind here.
This is why I only call the blinds with pocket pairs in cash games unless I've got J-J or higher. I don't want to be re-raised, which would make it tough for me to call in the hopes of hitting my set.
Obviously I don't mind a re-raise if I have K-K or A-A. That's when I'll shove on the player and hope my opponent calls.
I play pairs, especially pairs such as 6-6 up to 10-10, much different in cash games such as this than in a tournament. In a tournament, I always raise to pick up the blinds, and occasionally I might even re-raise or shove on the player later in the tournament if my stack warrants it.
The flop comes 6♠-3♦-10♣.
Awesome! I've flopped top set on a non-threatening board. There are no real draws out here, so I have no problem slow-playing the hand.
Now let's see if he was making a play or if he has a big pair.
The Big Blind bets the pot, $13.99. This tells me he has a big pair. He could be making a play - the board is pretty soft - but his big bet tells me he wants to end it right there. The third player calls, putting him all in, but I'm not really concerned about him. He's a shortie. I want the other guy's chips.
WHAT DID I DO NEXT HERE?
Players with a big pair get nervous, understandably, after the flop. They prefer to end the betting. Why? Well, it's difficult to play with a big pair after the flop because you only have a pair, and it's difficult to improve your hand. It's vulnerable, in other words, to two-pair and numerous draws.
So I call to extend his misery.
The turn brings a 2♦. Sure enough, the Big Blind bets $42, which puts me all in. If I don't have the best hand here, it's time to quit poker and take up Monopoly.
The river brings a J♣.
Sure enough, he shows Kings, and I drag a $116 pot.
WHAT IS THE LESSON LEARNED HERE?
You should always call a single raise with a pair in your hand in the hopes of flopping a set. You will earn most of your big pots from sets. You should especially call if the raise seems a little higher than normal. He most likely has a big pair and may not be able to fold after the flop.
As long as you’re disciplined enough to fold an over pair if the guy really bets it hard - because you might be beat - you should always call there.
Flopping a set against an over pair is most likely the most profitable play in poker. You'll almost always get paid off.
