Adjust to the table

Adjust to the table

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      While it’s important to stick with your game plan and poker strategy, you can’t become too restrictive about your style of play at any given table. Because every table is different… and the true Holdem rounder will adapt accordingly to the game he’s in.

                                                                                

 

 

     For instance, in some games a 3x big blind pre-flop raise is going to scare everyone out… time after time. But then in other games that kind of raise is going to get LAUGHED at. It all depends on the players and style at the table. You must adjust YOUR play
accordingly in order to consistently drag in poker profits.

    I seat down at the $1-2 no limit game at 7 P.M. The table was very tight. I was able to dictate the action and make pre-flop raises with a wide variety of hands. I stole the blinds consistently and walked all over my opponents. I’d raise the pot with hands like suited-connectors… and when an opponent finally DID catch a hand I’d bust them with my hidden hand. I also bluffed at pots from time to time when I sensed weakness… only to show my cards at the end to get everyone riled up. I was getting action with my big hands, bluffing at all the right times and stealing pots, and in general playing great poker. At 1 A.M. I was moved to another table. I seat down just to the right of the button and watched the action for awhile before jumping in to see a pot. Immediately I knew that this table was going to be a LOT different than the last one. The man to my left made a pre-flop raise of $50 into a $6 pot. But even more surprising than that was that three players called this pre-flop raise. At the previous table I didn’t see a single pre-flop raise of more than $30 get called. And I had been there for six hours. I watched this hand particular hand play out… as the guy sitting across from me took down the pot with a K-9 off-suit. That’s right. He had called a $50 pre-flop raise with K-9 off-suit. And the guy who had made the ORIGINAL raise was holding Q-8.

   I was absolutely amazed. While this type of table is uncommon, it DOES exist. I’ll find myself in these types of games every once in awhile… and when I do, I must COMPLETELY adjust my strategy. I can’t bully this table around like I did at the last one. In fact, I won’t even bluff once at a table like this. I won’t go for stealing blinds. I won’t raise with suited-connectors. Everything is different here. My strategy at a loose, maniac-like table like this one is to try to see a cheap flop with just about any type of hand. If I can limp-in with a 5-4 of hearts for $2, I’ll do it.

                                                                            

 

      I’ll also try to see a cheap flop with any wired pair… because if I hit I know I’m getting paid. Just about any hand where I have a chance at a “lucky” flop is good at this type of table. As for my big hands… I’ll only make a pre-flop raise with monsters like Aces, Kings, Queens, an Big Slick. And when I raise, it’s going to be a MASSIVE raise. I can afford to at this type of table because these loose cannons don’t care if I’ve been playing tight or not. They’ll still call my pre-flop raise when I have a hand because they just want the opportunity to bust me. But that’s also why I must be very CAUTIOUS with my big hands.

     After about an hour, I picked up pocket Aces. I was second to act before the flop and knew I needed to make a raise that would only get one or two callers. At the previous (tight) table I would have made it $15 or $20 to play… but not here, I raise to 75$  my first pre-flop raise at this table. I was confident I’d get action, but I also knew that $75 was large enough that I wouldn’t get TOO much action. The guy on the button was the only one to call.

    The flop hit: 4 7 Q

    I was first to act. I had sat down at this table with about $300 and after my pre-flop raise I had about $200 in front of me. So I go all-in. I make this bet because I can’t afford to let my opponent chase me down. These guys will chase a gut-shot draw if it’s for less than $50. So I have to play big and force my opponent to fold if he’s on a draw. I’m completely satisfied with the $75 I got from him before the flop… no need to get greedy. Greed is what leads to bad beats.

    So as you can see, I really had to adjust my game between these two tables. Of course, each of these situations was a little bit on the “extreme” side… in your average night of cards, the adjustments to your playing strategy won’t have to be as drastic. If you develop a consistent system of winning poker, it will become much easier for you to adjust to your table. Think of your adjustments like volume knobs, not switches. You must change up the DEGREE of your raises, your starting hands, your bluffs, and so on. Don’t just turn things “on or off”. Your overall strategy will always be the same, and that is to WIN. Period.

 

AA vs KK insane

 

A T allways tricky to play.

 

 

 

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