Table Image Strategy
7:53 PM
Some decisions are easy in poker, like when you are holding the nuts and are facing an all in bet from the only remaining player in the hand, but others can be incredibly complex and confusing to decipher, it can be useful to use an opponents table image to help you decide what to do, particularly in borderline situations. Seeing what an opponent played to a showdown can provide a clear indication of what type of player they are, at very minimum you should be watching the showdowns and evaluating them in relation to the betting patterns for that hand.
Creating a professional image can be counterproductive, sometimes the best way to keep weaker players at the table is by placing them into an environment that is friendly and chatty rather than intimidating.
Let the way a table is playing help decide which table image to use, if the table is playing tight then loosen up a little or vica versa; also understand that it is sometimes preferable to change the way you play based on specific opponents rather than the whole table, if you are sitting to the left of a maniac you can be a lot looser with your table image than if you were on their right.
Many >a href='http://poker.online-betting-guide.co.uk/Pro+Poker+Players.htm'>pro poker players frown on giving away free information like showing your cards, but if it helps you to achieve a certain table image then it's acceptable; the problem with showing cards is all parties understand you chose to show them and may have done so to set them up later on. Alternatively, you can continue to keep bluffing without showing them until you get caught, some opponents may already suspect you of bluffing and will struggle to believe you have a hand once you have confirmed their initial suspicions.
Your image should'nt be too similar to your actual style of poker play, otherwise you are making it too easy for your opponents to predict your next moves; a more balanced approach could be to vary between playing styles while trying to represent an image, for example switching between tight and loose at random intervals whilst conveying a tight table image.
Table image becomes increasingly important as the table limits go up; not everyone will even be paying sufficient attention to your play in order to read your table image in a small stakes game, it is much more likely your opponents will be studying your every more at the higher limits, thereby making table images more important and potentially more profitable at the higher table limits.
Finally, don't go broke creating a table image for yourself, while it is very useful to be able to influence your opponents play, it is even more important to increase the size of your stack; a strong table image is nothing if you have no bankroll left to exploit it.
Creating a professional image can be counterproductive, sometimes the best way to keep weaker players at the table is by placing them into an environment that is friendly and chatty rather than intimidating.
Let the way a table is playing help decide which table image to use, if the table is playing tight then loosen up a little or vica versa; also understand that it is sometimes preferable to change the way you play based on specific opponents rather than the whole table, if you are sitting to the left of a maniac you can be a lot looser with your table image than if you were on their right.
Many >a href='http://poker.online-betting-guide.co.uk/Pro+Poker+Players.htm'>pro poker players frown on giving away free information like showing your cards, but if it helps you to achieve a certain table image then it's acceptable; the problem with showing cards is all parties understand you chose to show them and may have done so to set them up later on. Alternatively, you can continue to keep bluffing without showing them until you get caught, some opponents may already suspect you of bluffing and will struggle to believe you have a hand once you have confirmed their initial suspicions.
Your image should'nt be too similar to your actual style of poker play, otherwise you are making it too easy for your opponents to predict your next moves; a more balanced approach could be to vary between playing styles while trying to represent an image, for example switching between tight and loose at random intervals whilst conveying a tight table image.
Table image becomes increasingly important as the table limits go up; not everyone will even be paying sufficient attention to your play in order to read your table image in a small stakes game, it is much more likely your opponents will be studying your every more at the higher limits, thereby making table images more important and potentially more profitable at the higher table limits.
Finally, don't go broke creating a table image for yourself, while it is very useful to be able to influence your opponents play, it is even more important to increase the size of your stack; a strong table image is nothing if you have no bankroll left to exploit it.
