Set Mining 101

Full Tilt Poker Game #5055471104: Table Lendrum (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold’em - 15:06:51 ET - 2008/01/30
Seat 1: mikec7809 ($102.85)
Seat 2: drawflush1 ($53.20)
Seat 3: pokergirl1982 ($100)
Seat 4: pfrancin ($104.35)
Seat 5: ShoesRDurrty ($187.90)
Seat 6: BongoLaw ($51.15)
BongoLaw posts the small blind of $0.50
mikec7809 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to drawflush1 [9s 9c]
drawflush1 calls $1          - ( No need to get crazy out of position, even 6-handed,  by calling it keeps it a suprise if i hit on a cheap flop )
pokergirl1982 folds
pfrancin calls $1
ShoesRDurrty folds
BongoLaw folds
mikec7809 checks
*** FLOP *** [Qs 9h Ah]     - ( Bingo ! Just what I wanted )
mikec7809 checks
drawflush1 checks           - ( I take a chance with the flush draw hoping the position caught a piece and stabs )
pfrancin checks
*** TURN *** [Qs 9h Ah] [4h]
mikec7809 checks
drawflush1 bets $3          - ( Not what I wanted to see, But I have to bet at this point to see where I am )
pfrancin calls $3        - ( You definately don’t have a flush….thank you sir…I put him on Ace weak kicker…Maybe AJ with a heart at best. )
mikec7809 folds
*** RIVER *** [Qs 9h Ah 4h] [Jd]
drawflush1 bets $7        - ( I hope you do have AJ….lets find out )
pfrancin calls $7
*** SHOW DOWN ***
drawflush1 shows [9s 9c] three of a kind, Nines
pfrancin mucks
drawflush1 wins the pot ($22.35) with three of a kind, Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $23.50 | Rake $1.15
Board: [Qs 9h Ah 4h Jd]
Seat 1: mikec7809 (big blind) folded on the Turn

Board: [Qs 9h Ah 4h Jd]
Seat 1: mikec7809 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: drawflush1 showed [9s 9c] and won ($22.35) with three of a kind, Nines
Seat 3: pokergirl1982 didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 4: pfrancin mucked [2s Ad] - a pair of Aces    - ( At this level, calling off chips like this just seems stupid to me, keep it up pfrancin!)
Seat 5: ShoesRDurrty (button) didn’t bet (folded)
Seat 6: BongoLaw (small blind) folded before the Flop

I just wanted to post this to re-iterate to myself why set mining is so valuable. Had this player of had 2 pair, Id be sure to stack him. I also do not see the value in raising hands like this when you are way out of position and your table is hyper-aggressive. Let them do your bidding and try and hit your set.

My thoughts on playing pocket pairs preflop online: 

9’s to A’s  I will raise out of position at 6 handed play 85-95% of the time , any pair from 8’s to 2’s , I typically call.

If Im playing full ring ( 9 or 10 player ), I’ll wait for J’s or higher to open raise in an early position, varying from a 4x to 6x raise, almost 100% of the time.

Playing live is different, I’ll be more inclined to raise more often with lower pair.