Poker Table Selection Primer

The first thing to understand is how the lobby of a poker site works. Once you have decided which game you want to play the first step is to scroll down the list of tables to find the limit at which you want to play.

This is often the first mistake people make as the lure of a juicy game one or two levels above their normal limit puts dollar signs in their eyes.

Unfortunately it is tricky to see when you have dollar signs covering your eyes and although the game may be extremely juicy the damage a few bad beats can do will leave more than dollar signs in your eyes. Once you’ve narrowed down the lobby to the tables relative to your bankroll it is then time to assess the numbers before blindly diving into the water.

The first important number we need to look at is the average pot size. This number is going to tell us a lot about how passive or aggressive the table is playing in general.

Any average pot size which is over 15bb is going to be verging on the aggressive side and will almost certainly contain players who are looking to get a lot of money in the middle at any opportunity. It is important to note, however, that a large average pot size doesn’t automatically indicate a table full of maniacal betting machines.

The large pot sizes may be down to a simple case of variance and the table might be dishing out cooler after cooler with players running AA in to KK many times in a row. The table may also contain one or two strong, aggressive opponents who are proficient at betting their hands for value and controlling the pot size against weaker players.

In contrast, a table with a very low average pot is likely to be filled with nits or passive fish.

These players are more than likely afraid to part with their chips until the absolutely have to (i.e. they hold the nuts) and you are much likely to encounter a lot of checks and calls rather than bets and raise which you would find at more aggressive tables.

The second important number we need to focus on is the average % of players per flop.

This number tells us, on average, how many players are seeing the flop each hand, which moreover, gives us an indication of the average type of hands that they are willing to see the flop with.

A high % number should peak your interest because this means the players are going to be playing a lot of pots and since we realise that you can’t be dealt a premium hand every time you have to assume they are mixing it up with a lot of speculative hands.

Your job at a table like this is to keep your head down, wait for the nuts and pick off one of the fish flinging his chips around like confetti.

If you combine a high % of players per flop and a large average pot size then you’ve got yourself a veritable gold mine because these players are going to playing a lot of marginal hands but most importantly they are going to be overvaluing them.

A table with a high % of players per flop combined with a low average pot will still be loose but here the players are likely to be limping and calling a lot more. This means the players will chase a lot of draws for a lot of money (instead of raising) and they will prefer to call down with their medium strength hands instead of raising.

In short, they are continually showdown bound for as little as they can be, which leaves the door open for you to control the size of the pot and take them on a little excursion to the loneliest place on the poker table: Valuetown.

Unsurprisingly, tables with a low player per flop % are going to be a hive of inactivity with most of the players only looking to enter a pot with a strong holding. This scenario can however be profitable as you can pinch their pennies left right and centre until they start showing some aggression.

These type of payers are going to shy away from a confrontation unless they have a good hand which leaves you free to rob their blinds, steal the pots when the miss the flop and generally be a nuisance at the table.

Now you know the numbers it is time to know yourself. If you’re a player who likes to sit tight and play a solid game of strong starting hands then you are going to be more suited to a table full of loose, aggressive maniacs.

These players will accommodate your style perfectly as they will sling chips around with gay abandon while you sit like a sniper ready to pick them off. If, however, you are more of a LAG (Loose and Aggressive) player then trying to make money at a similar table is going to be difficult because your bluffs will rarely work.

If you’re more creative with your play then the most profitable spots are going to come at a nice quiet table stocked with a host of players that won’t fight back too often. Basically you want a table that will let you bully them into submission.

Essentially, any table that is opposite to your style of play should be like a magnet drawing you in.

If spending a few minutes checking the lobby to find a juicy table is too much hassle then what many players like to do is sit at a fresh table and wait for the competition to come to them.

This technique actually has some advantages because very often you find that the very good players steer clear which paves the way for the fish. Without fail, every time you sit at a fresh table you will be joined by at least one player who buys-in for an odd amount e.g. $9.48 at a $25 max table, or $32.19 at a $50 max table.

These are poker’s desperados; disillusioned souls who wander the lobbies with the tatty remains of their bankrolls searching for a game. These players are on their last legs are will often be happy to throw their chips in the middle and let fate do the rest.

Another common player type that will join a fresh table is the short stacker. These players deliberately buy-in for 40-50bb and look to play a loose, passive style, double up and do a runner.

These players are great because they are easy to beat and often refill a few times in order to try and win their money back. It is very unlikely that a strong player will join the table because they will often assume you are a strong player because you are willing to play anyone that sits with you.

Table selection is something that money players often fail to do because they are too eager to get their chips moving. However, spending just a couple of minutes assessing your potential prey can help you avoid the shark tanks and earn you some very tasty profits.

So next time you’re about to load up a table have a quick look at its vitals and see if it is the right playing field for you.