One way to wina big pot off an aggressive opponent is to “set mine“, or to play medium and small pocket pairs mode often then traditional poker strategy would dictate.

We’ve all been there. You’re dealt a pair of fives and someone makes a big raise in front of you.
You know that calling a big raise and chasing two outs is not exactly a mathematically sound play, and you find yourself mucking your small pair to wait for a more favorable situation.
The next thing you know your third five comes on the flop and you’ve missed a set and a potential big pot.

The concept of set mining is essentially deciding to stay in a hand with your pocket pair in the hopes that you do hit that set.
The initial pot odds may not be the best to call a big raise, but when you do hit your set (roughtly one cut of eight times you hold a pocket pair) the payoff is usually huge.
When to set mine still requires some thought and strategy, it’s not going to be your best play all the time.

The best time to set mine and risk some of your chips chasing two outs is when you have a big stack compared to most players in the game.
The more chips you have, the more you can afford to gamble, and when you call a big raise and hit your set your opponents will not see it coming… especially if they have an over pair or they’ve hit top pair with two big cards.

Some of you may play so tight that you fold smaller pairs in the early positions because you don’t want to have to deal any raise that another player may put in there after you.
Raising the action with your smaller pocket pair will often allow you to control the pre-flop action, and will even win you the odd uncontested pot.
If you limp in with your pocket pair and face late-position raise, you have to option of calling or three-betting if you think that the late-position raise is just a real-estate bluff.

The thing to keep in mind about set mining is that if you do miss hitting your set, your mentality should be that you’re going to be willing to get out of the hand… especially if any aces or kings come on the flop and an opponent bets into you.

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Most true poker rookies seem to end up in the same place in most poker tournaments – as the short stack.
If you’re constantly ending up with fewer chips you’ve got to learn to dig yourself out of that hole or you’ll never make the big money.

The first thing to remember when your chip stack is running low is to be patient.
If you’ve just had a big hand nearly bankrupt you, don’t simply go all-in on the next hand because you think your chances of winning are gone.
To truly have a shot at getting back among the chip leaders you need some patience, and a little luck.

Since you have so few chips the hands you can play before and after the flop are limited.
You’ll want to get into a mindset of either all-in or fold.
You’re going to need to think like this to have a chance at rebuilding your stack.
If you still have enough chips to survive a few rounds of blinds, wait for real premium hands and go all-in.
This is your best chance of doubling up, or if you’re playing at the right table, possibly tripling up or more.

If the blinds haven’t reached monumental heights yet and you still have enough chips to see a couple flops, do it with medium to premium hands.
If you hit anything on the flop be aggrevisse and come out betting.
Even if you only end up with what’s already in the pot at least your stack is going growing again. If you’ve got a read on any of your opponents now is the time to use it.
If you come up against a tight player, try to steal the pot when you think they might be weak even if you’ve got nothing yourself.
If you’re up against a loose player, try to wait for a big hand and bet big since you can almost be assured they will call.

If you’re down to your last chip and will be forced all-in the next time the blinds come your way, your next play should be determined by position.
In an early position you should go all-in with any medium hand or higher.
You’re basically hoping to get lucky here with the blinds coming right behind you.
If you get a junk hand fold it and hope for something better in the blinds position.

In a middle position tighten up a bit and play any ace, any pocket pair or any two face cards.
If you end up hitting on the flop with one of these hands, you should have a good chance at winning or even doubling up.

In late position you’ve got more time before the blinds get you so don’t bet anything unless it’s a great starting hand.
Don’t be affraid to let go of mediocre cards if a player ahead of you goes all-in, especially if this player generally plays tight.
by David Harrison

I hope you found this poker article useful and interesting, also I would like to recomend OddsMaker Poker as one of the best places online to play online poker…
Well since I got nothing else to say today… I will leave you to your poker playing…. See ya at the poker table… who knows… peace…

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Checkout out these wise poker words

Beware The Bluster

When you first start playing poker it’s usually in a home-game setting where you can make mistakes with only your friends around to see.
Or you play online and never see the players that you’re playing against.

It doesn’t matter so much that you’re inexperienced because you don’t have to sit there embarrassed when you make a mistake or played a hand terribly.
But in live poker tournaments things are diferent. You can see your opponents, and often those opponents display habits that can be intimidating.
If you’re familiar with these behaviors before you play your first tournament, you’ll feel more at ease and everyone else won’t seem more experienced than you.

For some reason many players like to hone their chip-trick skills. They practive shuffling and flipping chips so it looks like they’re professional player that’s been playing for decades.
Most of these players don’t have anything special about their game, they just thought that chip tricks were cool and they dedicated some time to getting good at them.

Another common factor that many new players find intimidating at their first live poker tournament is the dealers.
Many dealers will use poker lingo that you may not have heard before.
To question what they said would make you look like a real rookie, and it’s not something you want to do in front of the entire table.
If you don’t know what the dealer means, just discreetly ask one of the players sitting next to you as if you didn’t hear the dealer. At worst, only they will know that your’re a rookie.

The most common intimidation factor you’ll encounter at the table is an opponent who is playing very aggressively.
This player seems like they raise everyone almost every time it’s their turn to act.
These players are willing to put the pressure on you, and you’ll have to eventually stand up to them.
Just wait until the river to raise them back, and you’ll get as much as possible from them.

When you enter a live poker tournament you need to be thinking about intimidating you opponents, not being intimidated by them.
You need to concentrate on not giving away any tells as you play.
Play without emotions and don’t be afraid to make a bet or raise when it looks like you opponents may be weak.
If you’re scared you’ll neve play well, you’ll only get pushed around until you make a mistake that knocks you out of the tournament.

You have to belive that even if you’re a novice, luck can play a big enough role in the poker tournament to provide you with some success.
Winning players belive that they can win, even if they’re new to poker and have a lot to learn.

by Dean Stone

Find out more about poker tournaments and online poker at Oddsmaker Online Casino.

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Updated with fresh content daily on topics like MTT, Sit & Go and cash game tactics from some of the brightest minds in the game, it’s the perfect way to build the basis of a winning poker strategy.

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