Reviews
Selecting a Texas Holdem Table
There are tons of Texas Hold'em games available on the Internet. To be successful in the long run you have to be able to find games where you have an edge. If you constantly play against players that are too experienced and skilled you will find it extremely difficult to make a profit.
Online poker games
How can you tell the strength of a poker game is before you've played in it' Actually, there are some indicators of soft (and tough) games. In online poker rooms these indicators can normally be found in the lobby:
- The average number of players seeing the flop should be at least 35 %. When this is the case the game is loose and that will give you a good chance of making some money. Try to avoid tight games with strong players.
- The average pot size is big. This is another indicator of a loose game. In fixed limit games you want the average pot size to be 12 times the big bet or larger. When the average pot size is small it will naturally be more difficult to make a profit.
When you're playing online you have to look out for changes in the game. On the Internet players switch tables very often, and you always have to keep track of what kind of opponents you're up against. A loose game can turn tight in a few minutes, and vice versa.
Live poker games
In live poker games there is no lobby that will provide you with the necessary statistics. In these cases you have to rely on your own observation skills. Study the game carefully and then decide whether you want to play in it or not. One thing you should look for is players you know to be weak. If you spot a weak player you should, if possible, sit down to the left of him (or her). That will give you great chances to capitalize on his (or her) mistakes. If you spot a player you know to be tight you should try to sit down to the right of him (or her). This will give you good possibilities to steal blinds and make successful bluffs. It's naturally equally important to look for weak and tight players when you're playing poker on the Internet.
