There are many ways to improve your poker skill\. However, it is unlikely that between now and your next poker session you will do something that will improve your game dramatically. Of course, reading the right books, studying articles, analyzing your game will help you, but only over time. Nonetheless, there is one proven way to increase your chances of winning in your very next online session, regardless of your current poker skills. We are talking of course about table selection in poker. In this article, we will look at the top 5 golden rules for proper table selection, and also consider popular auto-seating scripts MagicSeat и One007. Let’s get started!
Rule №1
How to select a poker table? First, look for online tables where players are clearly behind you in terms of skill level. This may seem too obvious, but it works regardless of your level of play. For example, the 100th player in the world in terms of skill will beat most of the people and win at most tables; however, if he sits at the same 9-max table with players that are 1-8 in the world, he’s going to have a rough game.
Things that will help you with this:
- Play within your bankroll. Read articles about bankroll management.
- Regardless of your starting bankroll, do not start higher than 0.10/0.25 NL games if you are new to poker.
- Keep general notes on other players. You can either take notes on players or just buy a hand history (you can buy it from us). Avoid tables with players you are struggling against and look for tables with players you know you can beat. If you are confident in your knowledge of your opponents’ playing style, this is a sure sign that you are a better player.
Rule №2
Look for a seat where you have players with money to your right. In Texas Hold’em, money usually flows clockwise, from early position players to later position players. So choose a seat where the players to your right have money, it is likely that it will gradually flow into your hands. Also, look for a seat where players to your right are raising and betting with losing hands (loose style of play). It is important that not only they have money, but also they are willing to give it away.
Rule №3
It is desirable that the players to your left have little money. Position is extremely important in Texas Hold’em, it determines who’s acting first and we want to be the last ones to act. Imagine tables where the player to your left has only 1 cent. Although he acts after you, his actions are almost irrelevant, since he cannot force you to fold with a large bet. Thus, you are the “last” to act effectively, when a guy with a very small stack is in the Button.
With small stacks to your left, you are effectively the last to act 20-30% of the time instead of the usual 10%. Moreover, the players to your left have position on you, but they do not have the money to put you in tough situations; even with a strong hand, they will not be able to threaten your stack.
Rule №4
Position yourself at the table so that to your left there are players who only bet or raise with very strong hands (tight style of play). Position is important, as the players to your left act after you and you can’t predict what they will do. However, if there are tight opponents to your left, you know exactly what they will do: they will fold unless they have a strong hand. If they raise after your bet, they most likely have a great hand, and you should consider folding yours.
Rule №5
If you realize that the current table is not suitable for you, leave immediately. This rule is one of the most important, yet many people ignore it completely. You are not playing against the table or against certain players, you are playing to make money, this is your goal!
Perhaps the table was initially good for you, but after half an hour, the players on the right lost most of their money and are now sitting with short stacks, the players on the left have won some money, and now they have an advantage. Leave the table and find a better one!
MagicSeat and One007 are the Best Poker Table Selection Software
There are table selection programs out there that make poker players’ lives easier. Currently, the leaders in this field are MagicSeat and One007. With their help, you can easily find and sit down at tables with weaker opponents (one or several at once).
In MagicSeat, automatic poker selection algorithms find a good seat in the shortest possible time, which is a huge advantage for a player who wants to start winning as quickly as possible.
You can learn more about all the features of this poker software on their official website. The program has technical support that not only promptly and quickly responds to customer requests, but also is ready to remotely connect to your device to personally participate in setting up the script.
There are practically no restrictions on supported poker rooms – the One007 user has access to all prominent sites, including:
- Winning Poker Network (WPN).
- iPoker.
- 888poker.
- Chico Poker Network.
Using scripts, the problem selecting a profitable table will just disappear. Moreover, to try this amazing software, poker players can get a free trial period of 10 to 14 days, depending on the product.
Poker Datamining and Table Selection is a Deadly Combination
To play poker profitably in the long run, table selection is definitely a must-have. Your potential winnings directly depend on your approach to this issue. However, it is definitely worth trying auxiliary software that will contribute to your future success. For example, take a closer look at MagicSeat and One007.
Moreover, to make the picture complete, you can also use hand history datamining. So not only will you play a weaker opposition because of table selection, but you will also know their playing style and behavior in a given situation, based on their previous hand history. Or, let’s say, if after automatic selection there are several strong opponents at a 9-max table with you, you can use hand history datamining to find the best way to play against them. And to buy a ready-made hand history database from different rooms, text us in Telegram or Skype and we will give you all the information you need!