tips to recognize that you are being setmined in cash games?

I've been playing cash games pretty regularly and the one thing really killing my profits is running into sets. I started at 2NL because I was new to cash games, and it started off pretty rocky at first. Tho I've been learning slowly and making progress. This is the main thing right now that's just holding me back from getting anywhere. I just can't seem to give my opponent credit at this level. I see so many weird plays that rather than give them credit I usually put them on a lesser hand.

Limp-call preflop, check-raise on dry flops is almost always a set at the micros in my exp, if a nit or a passive player takes this line i'll happily fold TPTK on the flop...... most of the time lol, an example from my db:

Villain was 17/6, cooler for me in the end and it's not the driest of boards but it's a good enough example

full tilt poker $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - View hand 409516
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $2.18
UTG+2: $11.66
MP1: $7.61
MP2: $5.95
Hero (CO): $12.14
BTN: $8.05
SB: $3.10
BB: $10.83
UTG: $4.15

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is CO with 5 :club: 5 :diamond:
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.10, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.40, 3 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.95) 6 :spade: 5 :spade: Q :diamond: (2 players)
UTG+2 checks, Hero requests TIME, Hero bets $0.70, UTG+2 raises to $1.90, Hero requests TIME, Hero raises to $5.80, UTG+2 raises to $11.26 all in, Hero calls $5.46

Turn: ($23.47) 3 :heart: (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($23.47) A :diamond: (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $23.47
UTG+2 shows 6 :heart: 6 :club: (three of a kind, Sixes)
Hero shows 5 :club: 5 :diamond: (three of a kind, Fives)
UTG+2 wins $21.91
(Rake: $1.56)

Stop stacking off with top pair type hands when the fish get angry & want to put tons of money in.

look for the signs of set mining

- villain limps then flat calls a raise
- villain check raises flop or turn
- fearlessness "they will try to bet as much as they think you will call"
- don't stack off top pair to a tag player here

I admit I even get sucked in with top pair at times myself.

Good topic coolnout, I often don't see this 'danger' esp with a non-paint rainbow board. I really like begley01's signs to look for...that will help towards decreasing my 'I can't believe I didn't see that coming' reads.

begley01 said:

look for the signs of set mining

- villain limps then flat calls a raise - i said limp-call
- villain check raises flop or turn - i said check-raise
- fearlessness "they will try to bet as much as they think you will call"
- don't stack off top pair to a tag player here - I said i'd happily fold TPTK

I admit I even get sucked in with top pair at times myself.

Click to expand...

"Everything orange said" would have been a quicker reply :smile: thank you though, plaigarisms the best form of flattery

Had another thought on the school run lol put yourself in the mind of the fish, if the board comes down K37r after he's limp-called pf and c/r on the flop, he is:

[x] Showing strength
[ ] Thinking, well thats a dry board....and he does cbet a lot.... i've got 66 but he can only really represent AK,KQ, poss KJ,33 and 77, a c/r here might push him off of AJ,AQ,88-QQ and a lot more air, which form a large part of his LP raising range, i check raise! haha!!

orangepeeleo said:

Had another thought on the school run lol put yourself in the mind of the fish, if the board comes down K37r after he's limp-called pf and c/r on the flop, he is:

[x] Showing strength
[ ] Thinking, well thats a dry board....and he does cbet a lot.... i've got 66 but he can only really represent AK,KQ, poss KJ,33 and 77, a c/r here might push him off of AJ,AQ,88-QQ and a lot more air, which form a large part of his LP raising range, i check raise! haha!!

Click to expand...

lolaments. The thing that scares me about fish is when you have them on more than one table and their stats are stupid like 70/50/50 but they are very similar on both tables. It makes me think they are actually thinking.

I am definitely glad I read this thread before tonight/last night...was able to get away from 2 pair (whew) but thought the BB had the set due to the check raising...SB was the one slow playing (naughty) .

Many thanks to orangepeeleo for the insight (missed the acknowledgement in my original post ).

A set is such a sneaky hand. It has to cross your mind though sometimes when you have top two or TpTk and you're getting raised and there are no draws . . . Sometimes you don't have a choice, but it depends on all of poker's variables.

Especially in set over set. I'll pay you OFF here with my one-outer. Ugh.

Thanks for all post on this subject. I Have hard time sniffing those out as well. Lots great advice!

Hello, very good topic..there are a few bluffers and donkeys out here ..but I like to watch a player to see which he is..smiling the longer you are at a table you can get a better read of other players. most people are solid players...good luck at the tables. Tina