Table Selection Equals Winning Poker

Results: 45 minutes played; up $15

I kept looking for a loose table today, but for most of the day the tables on Casino.net were a little tight (33% - 35% players seeing flop). When I checked again at 9PM, I found that the tables were much looser (65%). Looking back at last week's fiasco, I played two tables during the day on Sunday when they were they were at their tightest. I'm not winning as much when the tables tighten up, and when I don't get my draws, I'm punished heavily. From now on, I'm only going to play when I can find a table with 55%+ players seeing the flop.

On a side note, I found myself getting a little more aggressive post-flop on a couple hands. On one, I had AJs (raised and called around the table pre-flop) and the flop had an A with two low cards. Someone bet in front of me, all four others called and I raised. All of the bettors called my raise then checked to me on the turn (a 10). From that point on, I was the lead bettor, and got all but one to fold before the showdown. The other player had A5, so I won with high kicker. If I'd called post-flop, some of the others might have stayed in and beat me on a later street.

The other hand was similar; I had AKs, flopped a pair of kings and pushed hard. I don't know what the other guy had at showdown (he mucked), but he lost in any case.

Although I've read the chapter in Small Stakes Hold 'Em a few times, I don't think I really understood the idea of pot equity until tonight. In both of these hands, the odds of me improving my hands were a higher percentage than my percentage of the pot. I think that's called "raising for value" if I understand the concept. Instead of letting the other players see a card for cheap (or free), I'm making them pay to see it, and I have an equity edge on the money they are adding to the table.

I'm such a newbie to poker, but I really think I'm learning.

posted by Kent @ 8:02 PM