A Poker Concept: Little Talked About, But One That Can Turn You Into a Big Winner

Image via WikipediaA Poker Concept: Little Talked About, But One That Can Turn You Into a Big Winner

I have been playing a lot of middle limit poker and I believe that many players don't understand the concept of "Table Composition." Yet, table composition is often the the first and most important thing to recognize when you start to play in a poker session.

First, you must understand that table composition is not to be confused with one player's table image.

I would define "table composition" as the table images of all your opposition combined along with the circumstances that these players are experiencing at that session.

Table Composition

In limit hold'em you will find that the way the table composition should greatly influence your selection of starting hands. Usually in limit hold'em you will find that pre-flop the following will occur:

1. A lot of limpers.
2. A raiser and a few callers.
3. A raiser and a lot of callers.

A lot of limpers

If the table composition results in a lot of limpers in a pot, you must widen your starting hands to include drawing hands. Drawing hands are small to medium pocket pairs, and suited connectors. When it comes to suited connectors, I'd recommend playing only no-gap and one gap suited connectors. In addition, you can also play unsuited connectors in a back position for one bet--such as 6-5 offsuit.

However, you must realize that your premium hands go down in value. The reason is that A-K does not play well against 5 plus opponents. Even pocket Aces are vulnerable, and as far as pocket Jacks go--well, you better hit a set on the flop!

Overall, this is the kind of table composition you will find in low limit games and when players are playing by route, tired or stuck in a middle limit games.

A raiser and a few callers

Most middle limit games result in one player raising pre-flop with a few callers. This means that you need to play solid poker and fully understand the concepts of limit play. The premium hands go up in value, while the drawing hands go down in value.

Most flops in these games result in everyone checking to the pre-flop raiser, and the player on a draw raising the bettor on the flop. It is a case of hitting or missing, stealing, and some smart poker moves in order to be a consistent winner at middle limit hold'em.

A raiser and a lot of callers

When you sit down to a game where most everyone is playing to win a big pot with a wide range of hands, look out! This is gonna be a wild ride. The variance in these games is wide and you can walk away a big winner or a big loser.

You can expect players to be aggressive on the flop and turn with raises and check raises. The reason for this aggressive play is that it builds the pot for a draw, the player with the best hand and/or get an opponent to fold before the river. Frankly, the pots are often so big, that at times to chasing to the river is not a mistake or that big of a mistake.

The starting hands played will be similar to the game with a lot of limpers, except for a few differences.

When you have a drawing hand in an early position and the player raises under the gun, you are going to have to call and expect to get multiple callers. Hands like 7-5 suited are worth a shot, when you know you are going to be paid off if you hit your hand.

Also, you must understand that when you miss your A-K on the flop, don't just bet into 5 plus opponents. Check and hope for a free card.

And, if you raised with those pocket Aces or pocket Kings pre-flop, you must muck them when the board is coordinated and there is a lot of betting and raising on the flop. You may have an overpair but with multiple opponents and redraws you are taking the worst of it.

Again, these games are wild and it can be a very profitable or costly session to compete in. In fact, when the table composition is this aggressive and risk-adverse, you may want to move tables.

Conclusion

You will get much better results when you understand table composition. Often you can get a sense of how your table is playing after just a few hands.

Oh, and you should also realize, that as players change, the table composition may also change.

How To Take Advantage of Your Position in Poker

What Is Position?

Think of position as simply where you are seated at the poker table relative to the big blind. If you are in the first three positions after the big blind, you are in an early position. If you are in the last three positions before the small blind, you are in a late position.

Why Position Is Important

Here are some reasons why your position at the poker table is important both pre-flop after the flop:

1. If you are acting in the first three positions after the big blind you are at a disadvantage since there are so many players who act after you do. These players can find a premium hand and force you to either fold or call a raise with the worst hand.

2. If you are acting from the button or the cut-off position, you are at an advantage since you know the action that took place in front of you, and you will have position throughout the hand. As a result, you can make better decisions and make plays to put pressure on your earlier opponents or try to steal the blinds.

3. If you are in the small blind, you are in the worst position since you must act first from the flop on.

4. If you are the pre-flop raiser, it is to your advantage to have position on your opponents. Again, you want the action in front of you since it gives you additional information which can help your decision-making. And, if you flop a big hand, it is easier to build a bigger pot when you have position on your opponent.

5. Overall, when having position on your opponents, you have more options on how to get the most chips in the pot. Of course, you can also use a bad position relative to your opponent to your advantage.

How To Take Advantage of Your Position

1. Let's say you are on the button and two players have limped into the hand. You find Q-J offsuit. While players tend to call with this hand to see a flop, you can make a raise to try to get your opponents to fold. This play is more effective when you have not entered a pot in a long time, and your opponents tend to fold to pre-flop raises.

2. Now, continuing with the above example, let's say you get one limper to call your raise. Even if the flop misses your hand, since you have position on your opponent you can make a continuation bet to try to get him to fold.

3. Another classic example of using position to your advantage is a squeeze play. A simple example of a squeeze play is when one player raises pre-flop, another one calls that bet, and a third player makes a big re-raise. This bet squeezes the first player--as he not only has to decide if his hand is better than the re-raiser, but he also has to worry about the caller. This is a great play to use in no limit tournaments to win a big pot.

4. Of course, the most common plays to use position to your advantage is when no one has entered the pot, and you are in a late position or the small blind. Acting first allows you to attack the blinds and try to steal them with a pre-flop raise. Every hand starts as a battle for the blinds--so try to win the battle with a position pre-flop raise.

5. You can also turn your bad position to your advantage. Let's say that three players have limped into the pot, and you check on the big blind with Q-J offsuit. The flop is 2-2-6. You check, but the last player to act bets. If you call, it will look like you may have caught the deuce. Being in the blind gives your opponent pause that you have a "big blind special." A lousy starting hand that got just the right flop to end up with a monster.

6. Another example where acting first is an advantage is when you are on the big blind and there are three callers. The flop comes Q-8-2 rainbow. Everyone checks. The turn card is a 5. This pot is ripe for stealing as no one has shown strength on the flop, and you act first. A bet here will usually take down the pot.

Suggestion

There are many ways to take advantage of your position in a no limit poker tournament. Look to use your position as a key tool in accumulating chips. As you recognize more opportunities to use your position, you will find that it can be more important than your hole cards.



Learn to use position to your advantage in no limit poker tournaments.

What is Poker Table Image and Why it's Important.

What is Table Image?

A player's table image refers to a style of play. One common way to describe a player's table image is by how often they play a hand.

For example, if a player has not entered a pot for a long time, you should think of that player's image as being tight. He is tight since he seems to have a very narrow range of playing hands.

If a player has entered every other pot, you should think of that player's image as being loose. It is loose since he can not be getting that many top starting hands; that is, he has a wide range of starting hands to enter a pot.

Another way to describe a player's table image is by the action they take when they do play a hand.

For example, if that tight player only enters the pot with a pre-flop raise, he can be described as both tight and aggressive. He is aggressive because he enters every pot with a pre-flop raise.

However, if that tight player only enters the pot by calling the big blind, he can be described as passive. He is passive because he is a caller.

Why is Table Image So Important?

Identify your opponent's table image.

Watching your opponents and identifying their table image is an important skill and will help you improve your game considerably.

For example, I was playing at a limit tournament and there was one player who almost never entered a hand. When he did enter a hand he showed down hands like pocket Aces, pocket Kings, pocket Queens, and A-K. This player clearly was super tight.

When we got down to the final two tables. He was still in the event. His playing style had not changed. He was staying super tight. On this one hand I was on the big blind, and after one player raised pre-flop, this super tight opponent re-raised. I looked down to find A-Q. In a limit tournament, it is not expensive to call and see a flop. However, I folded since I knew the tight player probably had me beat. His table image improved my decision making. Or, so I thought...

When the flop was Q-6-2, I was feeling uneasy. Did I fold top pair, top kicker? When the action went to the river, the tight player won with pocket Aces, while his opponent had A-Q. Phew!

If your opponent is loose and aggressive, it can make your decision making more difficult. In the recent WSOP Europe, Daniel Negreanu was playing his small ball strategy for a no limit event. Daniel was entering many pots with small pre-flop raises. On this one hand, he raised small pre-flop with 9-10 suited. His opponent re-raised Daniel's bet a large amount with A-Q; it was a 5 times Daniel's bet. Daniel called.

The flop was J-J-7. Daniel checked, as did his opponent. The turn was an 8. Bingo! Daniel checked his straight, and his opponent lost all his chips when he moved in on the turn. It is difficult to put a player on a hand if he plays a small ball strategy.

Sometimes players change their table image based on the stage of the event or their relative stack sizes. This could be because they are becoming more passive at the time of the bubble, wanting to get paid something. Others may simply be desperate for chips and they become more aggressive.

Figure out your own table image.

It is important to think about the table image you have created to your opponents. Are you aggressive, loose, passive, aggressive? Do you need to change your style of play so you are more unpredictable? Also, you may find that your table image may differ depending on your opponent.

For example, at a WSOP event, in the first hour I was getting an incredible run of premium hands. Opponents were getting frustrated by my pre-flop raises and continuation bets, especially since I never had to show my hands. My table broke up, and I went card dead. When this table broke up, I was moved next to a player from my original table.

On the first hand at this new table I was dealt pocket Kings. I raised. My opponent probably perceived me as loose, aggressive, since he moved all-in. I called. He turned over 6-4. I was very happy, until he flopped a 6 and rivered a 4. Doh!

Suggestion:

As a general rule, you want to play the opposite your table image. For example, if you are a tight passive player, and start entering a series of pots with pre-flop raises, your raises will get more respect from opponents. It allows you to steal more often and pick up blinds and antes.

If your opponent views you as a loose, aggressive player, your opponents are more likely to call you down or even raise your bets.

Identify your opponents table image and figure out the table image you are projecting. It will improve your game. It will improve your decision making. Sometimes you will find that while raising an aggressive opponent is a smart play, folding with the same hand may be the right move against a tight opponent.