Poker Table Selection SkillsLet's face it, the basics of poker are pretty easy to figure out. Most players pick it up fairly quickly. Any relatively intelligent player can memorize at least one starting hand strategy and learn how to use his position at the table very easily. However, if it was all you needed to become a winning poker pro, both online and land-based poker rooms would have been flooded with unbeatable players. Therefore, it is a fact that there is much more to poker than the very basic rules.

In this article we want to cast a spotlight on various table selection subtleties. While most land-based gaming venues typically have floormen to direct players to their tables, online poker rooms allow players to make these decisions by themselves. It is widely believed that smart table selection is what separates a mediocre poker player from an excellent poker player. So, what is "smart table selection" and how does it work?

Important numbers

In the absence of info on any of the players at a particular poker table (as it is normally), you must pay attention to the information that most virtual poker rooms offer regarding the tables. First and foremost, look for the number of hands dealt per hour. This number is important simply because the faster the game pace, the more cash you can win on an hourly basis. The second significant number to take note of is the percentage of players actually seeing the flop. If the number is over 40%, the game is probably too loose and would not guarantee you a profit in the long run. On the other hand, any number less than 30% indicates that the game participants are very tight. And, tight tables are not profitable to play on, no matter how good you are. The third significant piece of info to regard is the average pot size listed for the table.

The average pot

Players who usually select the higher average tables make the wrong move. A table with a higher average is not necessarily the best table. You need to look at the relationship between the amount of the average pot and the number of game participants seeing the flop. Let's say that you have two tables to choose from:

Table No. 1: There are 10 participants, 37% seeing the flop, average pot for table is $20

Table No. 2: There are 10 participants, 33% seeing the flop, average pot for table is $13

Although at first sight, Table No. 1 seems as the more attractive of the two, it is definitely not so. To understand the logic behind this reasoning, try to figure out how the pot was created in the first place. Imagine the course of the game at each table and you will see that Table No. 2 is your only option, if, of course, what you're looking for is to make some money.

To make a long story short, what we mean to say is: be patient. Don't dive into the first table you lay your eyes on. Besides patience, most winning poker players would mention three additional tips for successful play: First, never enter a game if you're not comfortable with its limit. Second, recognize your opponents. Realizing someone is a shark could save you many a dollar. And third, if your true skill lies in heads up, don't enter multi-player tables. It is our educated advice that you only go for tables that suit best your individual gaming abilities.