Regular poker players know how important it is to choose the proper table in order to gain the maximum profits.
A player can enter a new card room or even one where he has played regularly. But if he picks the wrong table, he could soon find himself searching for his credit card at the casino's ATM machine.
I have sat down at games that contain several raisers. When that happens, you can win money, but it is a very risky venture. With many players in a raising mood, you are limited as to the beginning hands you can play profitably.
I recently traveled to Jacksonville, FL. to spend a couple of days at Best Bet Casino on Monument Road. I like Best Bet. It's located near the beaches, the staff is friendly, and the games provide all the action I can handle.
I was very careful about the table I selected. After wandering around the crowded casino, I took a seat at a table where nobody was raising.
I had observed the play at the table. All the players were passive. Perfect, I thought. I bought in for $100 and sat down behind my chips.
When you are at a table with no raisers, you can play almost any two cards that are dealt to you. Basically you get into a pot cheap and when you are the last to act, that can become a tremendous advantage to you.
Let's say you are behind or one seat short of the button and you are dealt a j-9 off-suit. Normally this is a hand I would toss into the muck. But in late position in a non-raising table. that can be a very good hand to play on speculation.
In many cases you will be the last person to act. If the other players all check to you, just make a bet and you will probably win the pot. You don't even have to look at the flop. The wager will usually be enough to win.
Sometimes a player will flop a powerful hand and will check, hoping to induce a bet. But most passive players don't use this strategy. They play poker by the book. When they get a good hand, they bet it, period. They are very predictable and thus pretty easy to beat.
The more passive your table, the easier it is to control the game. And if you can manipulate the other players by raising and bluff bets, you are well on your way to financial success.
I played at the table for about three hours and won more than $400 in chips. Eventually the passive players were replaced by aggressive players and they began raising. After three raisers had entered the game, I quietly picked up my chips and moved to another table.
Poker is a fun game. It pays to keep it fun by being the only aggressive player at the table. Wouldn't you rather be at a table where the other players feared you rather than the other way around? Give me a table like that any day of the week and I will show you a winner.
At such a table, even if you are in early position you can take advantage of the other players by betting a scary flop. By scary I mean if you are one of the blinds and a pair flops, come out betting. The players will rarely call because they fear trips. If there are two suited cards and a player calls you and the fourth street card is harmless, another bet will usually take the pot down.
Look for the profitable poker table. It may take time, but if you invest it, you will improve your bankroll. Let the games begin.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to [email protected] ).
