Poker Game Selection
by Bill Burton
This lesson at
Learn to Play Poker program is Poker
Game Selection, one of the most important concepts in playing
the game.
However, game selection is also most often overlooked by most players.
There
is an adage that says, "You don't have to be the best poker player in
the world. You just have to be better than the other players at your
table."
When you have a choice, you should make a poker game selection that you
think will be profitable for you.
A
poker game filled with rocks who only bet when they have the nuts will
not be as profitable as a poker game selection with one or two calling
stations.
You should evaluate the skill level of the players in a game and
determine where you fit in.
If you feel that you are outmatched by the players at one table, you
should look for a different game. Poker Game selection will be a
big factor in whether you win or lose.
As
you can probably figure out, the type of game that you are in will be
dependant upon the types of players sitting at the table.
Most of
the time you will have a mixture of players but more than likely you
will find yourself with the majority of players having the same style.
No Fold'em, Hold'em
This is the term given to games that
contain a large number of calling stations. The game is usually very
loose with a lot of players seeing the flop and many of them calling
all the way to the river.
This type of game is also called 'Showdown Poker' because you will have
to show down the best hand at the end.
There is absolutely no time in this game when it will be correct to try
a bluff. It just won't work.
Poker Game Selection: Wild Games
In wild games, you
will have a large majority of loose aggressive players. They will want
to cap the betting before the flop and continue betting after the flop.
This type of game can produce big fluctuations on your bankroll if you
play your normal style.
You will have to tighten up your game even more than normal and wait
for the big solid hands to play.
You may not be playing many hands, but the ones you do win will be
huge.
It
has been my experience that most of the wild games I have been in
consisted of mostly younger males who are out having a good time and
showing off a little macho bravado at the tables.
If this type of game makes you feel uncomfortable then you should find
another game.
Tight Games
If you are in a game with many tight players, you will see much
smaller pots, as there will be fewer players involved in each hand.
They will be very selective about the hands they play and will do
a lot of checking, looking for a free card if they are on a draw.
Usually a bet will drive them out in this situation.
If the game
is passive as well as tight, you may be able to loosen up a little
since you will be seeing the flop fairly cheaply.
If there is ever a correct time to bluff in low-limit Hold'em, it will
happen when you are in an extremely tight passive game.
In
some brick and mortar card rooms there will be several games being
played at the same limit but in others your choices will be limited.
Most of the time you will have to be seated before you can determine
the type of game you are in.
If it is not to your liking, you will have to ask for a table change.
This is not the case when you play poker online.
When
you play online, you will usually have many different choices. In fact,
one of the advantages to playing online is that fact that you can tell
before hand how many players are seeing the flop.
Most online poker sites also show you the average size of the hand.
This can help you choose a game easily. It is also easy to jump from
table to table when you play online.
Know Your Limit
Some players want to move up to play for higher limits. This is
fine if you have the bankroll and the skill to move up to the higher
limit games. When you do move up don't let your ego get in the way.
If
you find you are outmatched at the table, there is no shame in moving
back down to a lower limit game that you know you can beat.
With
the growth of online poker, there is an abundance of the very low limit
games that are extremely loose with many players staying in to the
river.
This has produced a lot more bad beats and I often hear
player lament that they want to move up to higher limit games to play
with a "better quality" players.
This is not necessarily the remedy.
If
you can't beat these loose players at the lower level, you most likely
will not beat the more skilled players at the higher limits.
Your goal in poker is to win money. You can start by evaluating the
best poker game selection.
Pick one that suits your style and bankroll and always play your best
game.
Poker
Room Play follows Poker Game Selection
OR
Return
to Learn to Play Poker 1 Program
OR
Learn
Poker Games 2 with 8 games
Gambling
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