Poker Strategy
Game Selection in Online Poker
Game selection is an important and often overlooked facet of successful poker. If you had a choice between sitting down at a no limit Texas Hold'em table with Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Doyle Brunson and Daniel Negreanu or one with six amateurs who had never played Texas Holdem before, which one would you choose? You might choose the superstar table for the stories you could tell, but if your interest is in winning money you probably want to go for the table full of amateurs.
Game Selection in Poker
In real life, the choice is not that stark. You can't tell from a casual glance which players are the superstars and which ones are the donkeys. What you can do is observe the tables to determine which game better suits your style of play and will be an easier table for you to beat.
Game Selection in Live Poker Games
In a live casino, game selection can be difficult. There are a limited number of seats, tables and dealers and if you want to get into the action, you may have to take whatever seat is available. Furthermore if you stand too close to a game in progress, the players may get edgy, staring you down or even asking the floor person to remove you. These conditions make observing a table to draw conclusions somewhat difficult.
Game Selection in Online Poker Games
Online poker is a different story. The availability of seats is virtually unlimited and you can observe the players all day long without those players objecting or even knowing that you are there. There is no excuse for not carefully selecting your games in an online poker situation.
Approaching Online Game Selection
The first thing you should do is look for games with players you already have notes on. If you've previously identified certain players as weak or if you have good reads on them, finding two or more of them at a table can be like money in the bank. Failing that, observe tables to see where you will thrive. If you can find a table with a lot of loose-passive calling stations, for example, where multiple players are putting in chips with marginal hands, you have a great opportunity for a winning session. If you are a very aggressive player and stumble upon a table where everyone seems to be playing very tight, this may be a table you want to join and try and run over, although the nature of the table will probably eventually adjust to your presence. If this happens, though, you can always jump to a new table - one of the great benefits of online poker.
