Table Selection in Hold'em
In this article:
- Who is table selection suitable for?
- What is table selection?
- Important considerations.
- How does your table selection affect your game?
- Assessing the players at the table.
- Who is table selection suitable for?
- What is table selection?
- Important considerations.
- How does your table selection affect your game?
- Assessing the players at the table.
Who is table selection suitable for?
It is suitable for beginners who want to learn and understand which table they should be sitting at and understand why. Knowing this will save you chips and helps you to boost your level and refine your game.
It is suitable for beginners who want to learn and understand which table they should be sitting at and understand why. Knowing this will save you chips and helps you to boost your level and refine your game.
What is table selection?
When you are playing poker, sometimes you will have the choice to choose your table. If you are playing in a casino, the floor attendant may show you to your chair which limits your choice. However, you can also ask the attendant to change your table.
When you are playing poker, sometimes you will have the choice to choose your table. If you are playing in a casino, the floor attendant may show you to your chair which limits your choice. However, you can also ask the attendant to change your table.
Important considerations:
1) The average pot size of each hand: If the pot size is huge, you will be playing against a lot of chasers and people that bet big. If you are new, you might be better off choosing a table with $1/2 blinds. If you are frightened by the number of chips that other players’ have, you should find another table or consider not playing.
2) How many people are playing on the table? If you are playing a full table, then you will have to fold a lot. On the other side, if you are playing on a short-handed table, then you will be playing more in blinds. The higher the amount of players, the higher the amount for quality hands.
3) The skill level of the players. Would you want to be playing against a table of professionals? I think most people would say no. You want to be playing at a table where your skill level is equal to or higher than the other players. If your skill level is higher, of course you will be able to use that to your advantage.
4) The price of the blinds. If the blinds feel too high, they probably are. Drop down to a cheaper table. If you can’t handle the blinds at a $1/2 game, you need to build up a poker bankroll, study poker and keep on learning.
5) Your luck. If you have been having bad luck, get outdrawn a lot on the river OR are being pressured by the raises pre-flop on the flop- you should change your table.
1) The average pot size of each hand: If the pot size is huge, you will be playing against a lot of chasers and people that bet big. If you are new, you might be better off choosing a table with $1/2 blinds. If you are frightened by the number of chips that other players’ have, you should find another table or consider not playing.
2) How many people are playing on the table? If you are playing a full table, then you will have to fold a lot. On the other side, if you are playing on a short-handed table, then you will be playing more in blinds. The higher the amount of players, the higher the amount for quality hands.
3) The skill level of the players. Would you want to be playing against a table of professionals? I think most people would say no. You want to be playing at a table where your skill level is equal to or higher than the other players. If your skill level is higher, of course you will be able to use that to your advantage.
4) The price of the blinds. If the blinds feel too high, they probably are. Drop down to a cheaper table. If you can’t handle the blinds at a $1/2 game, you need to build up a poker bankroll, study poker and keep on learning.
5) Your luck. If you have been having bad luck, get outdrawn a lot on the river OR are being pressured by the raises pre-flop on the flop- you should change your table.
How does table selection affect your game?
If you had the choice to increase your odds on winning, would you take it? Of course you would. This is what table selection is about; you consider the 5 things listed above to determine your table. You will know whether you should be sitting at the table you are at, or move to another table by applying these principles.
If you had the choice to increase your odds on winning, would you take it? Of course you would. This is what table selection is about; you consider the 5 things listed above to determine your table. You will know whether you should be sitting at the table you are at, or move to another table by applying these principles.
How do you choose the limits you will play with?
If you are reading this article and you don’t play poker much, you should be playing the smallest blinds possible. Most likely, they will be set at $1/2. If you want to find out more information in detail about choosing your limits, click on the following link about Bankroll Management.
If you are reading this article and you don’t play poker much, you should be playing the smallest blinds possible. Most likely, they will be set at $1/2. If you want to find out more information in detail about choosing your limits, click on the following link about Bankroll Management.
Assessing the poker players at the table:
This can occur in different ways.
If you use poker software like: Poker Crusher, which gives you instant access to players’ information. It can show you things like how often people call/raise on the flop, the turn and the river. It also shows you the players’ skill level, for example if you are playing against a fish or a shark. If you want to find out more information about Poker Crusher, clink on the link www.pokercrusher.com
This can occur in different ways.
- ONE- If you play in home cash games and you have already become familiar with the players’. You already have knowledge on how they play- if they play tight, loose or are just clueless.
- TWO- At a casino with new people you can watch how often they are calling hands, how often they are raising, and how often they win. These indicators can give you a lot of information.
- THREE- By playing online and using the statistics of the website combined with poker software. When you open up a room- before entering it, you can use that information to your advantage. For example, it can show you a lot of information: How much the blinds are? What’s the average pot size? And, how many players are at the table?
If you use poker software like: Poker Crusher, which gives you instant access to players’ information. It can show you things like how often people call/raise on the flop, the turn and the river. It also shows you the players’ skill level, for example if you are playing against a fish or a shark. If you want to find out more information about Poker Crusher, clink on the link www.pokercrusher.com
