The setmining dilemma in Sit and Go Tournaments

I read that set mining can be really profitable for sngs, but right now, I really don’t think that it is feasible beyond a certain point, or beyond a certain level, or for certain situations. I think that set mining is a good thing to add to the arsenal but might be really a limited weapon you should or can use.

I don’t have any hard and fast rules about when to do set mining, but I do follow some personal guidelines when playing sit and go tournaments. If I get to see the flop free, I sometimes check behind other players. I won’t do set mining if I don’t have at least 40 to 50BB. If I’m under 40BB’s I tend to not do set mining unless it’s the best move. I also choose to set mine more in the micros or in the lower stakes as the potential for losing BR is lower – more psychological as I feel micros are not that big a deal to lose, at least not for a very long downswing, which can add up.

I think that it is horrible to call a raise just to set mine, that’s where I usually draw the line. It might not be horrible during the first 2 levels. Also, if I’m short stacked and I get pocket pairs, I’m shoving. No point in set mining if you have only a handful of BBs left. You’d essentially just be slowly pissing it away.

I don’t know the actual poker math and odds behind it but I know that the odds of hitting a set is somewhere between 7 and 8 percent. Since we hit it one in every seven or eight only, it’s not profitable to put more than maybe 10% of your stack just to set mine. Better to play than set mine.

I think I would be willing to set mine if I think my opponent has a high pocket pair, but makes min bet to entice other players. It’s a good chance people would push their unimproved AK, Ax very hard even if they don’t improve their hand post flop. If I hit my set here at the flop, even low sets can bet a PP A kicker.

Basically, you just have to temper it. Of course, if you get pocket pairs, even low ones, there’s enough of a chance there that set mining for a fair amount of small pairs can be a profitable enterprise. If you fold all of your small pocket pairs 100% of the time, then you’re losing out on potential earnings. The key is knowing the instances when to set-mine.