Just prior to the holiday trip down south to Dixie, where in Tunica I won a table share of a bad beat jackpot, I began a series of articles titled – as this one is – Back to Basics. The premise of this series is that I felt every now and then we poker players should [as the announcer for the old Lone Ranger television show would say] “…return to those thrilling days of yesteryear…” when we were just learning poker and revisit some of the basics tenets of the game. I had reviewed some of the books I purchased ‘way back then and came up with some pointers from the pros – or at least the authors of those books – for the person beginning to play poker.
Don’t play right away was the first pointer. Sure, we’ve driven all that distance past field and farm – or housing area and strip mall as it may be – to sit down and mix it up in the felt arena but again, as the Lone Ranger would say, “Whoa, big fellah!” Take a little time, perhaps all that is needed is to wait a round or until the Big blind comes to you, but this gives you some time to observe the opposition and begin to ‘make the table’. Since poker is a game of incomplete information, the more information about the other players you have upon which to base your decisions may likely give you an edge. As we all know, sometimes the difference between winning and losing is that small edge of advantage someone’s figured out about their opponent.
[Side note & quiz: Who played the Lone Ranger in the 1950’s television series? See answer below]
Look for negative player inferences was the second point. What is meant by that is be observant to a player who raises preflop but who doesn’t make a continuation bet post-flop. This might be a tell about that player insofar as he will not commit more chips to the pot unless he connects with the flop. Watch for tendencies you could exploit. Do they shut down when faces with a reraise or encounter any resistance to their bet? That might indicate they’re a tighter player. If this player stays in the hand post-flop and calls bets – or leads out with them – you can infer they have a powerful hand that connected well with the flop.
Assess each players state of mind is the third goal when sitting down at a new game. Players on tilt might be easy to spot but how about the others? Along with their state of mind you might ascertain the reason they’re playing. Are they there for the social aspects: With friends and talking it up? Distracted by watching the game on television? Are they focused on the game and aggressive about it or does it appear they are casual players with other things on their minds. These tendencies and states of mind are things an observant, aware and thinking player can take advantage of given the right opportunity. If you sit right down at a game and begin playing, one cannot take advantage of some of this information. Waiting a little bit after joining a table before jumping into the game may afford a telling observation as to the opposition and again, thereby gaining an edge on their chip stacks.
The next factor one should take into account is:
Determine your table position. The position meant is not relative to the button as this, of course, moves with each new hand. The position referred to here is in reference to the players. Where are you in reference to the tilt case, the distracted players and the drunk, the loose-aggressive or super-tight player? You may want to ask the dealer for the first seat change available or even ask the floorman for a table change. Sitting to the left of the super-aggressive or maniac player can afford the opportunity to isolate and destroy him by raises and/or reraises. Sitting to the right of passive or super-tight rocks can allow for a lot of stealing of blinds and pots again via judicious raising. So the point here is to determine where you are in relation to the players you wish to – or can – exploit. If you need to change seats to position yourself to best advantage, do so. Occasionally even a table change can afford the best advantage.
All this – and more in the next few articles – because you take a little time before beginning to play and start by thinking about poker.
[Answer to quiz: Clayton Moore]
