How to play the table

Playing the table at Holdem Poker means keeping the opposition guessing. The truth is that the element of luck means very little to the outcome of a Holdem Poker game, and even if a player hits a few strong hands during a game, their ability to under the flow of the game and the playing style of the opposition and play them accordingly, will stand them in much better stead than the occasional pair of pocket aces.

A player who understands how to play the table, and picks up on
what their opponents are doing, will be able to adjust their game accordingly.

If the table is made up from conventional and tight straight forward players and who weigh up very hand before taking any form of risk, will be cannon fodder to a player who adopts an aggressive stance. Tight players are much less inclined to take risks, and will assume that you have a very strong hand. The chances are that they will fold more often than not, but if they do call, you should hope that you have a strong hand.

On the other hand, if the table if filled with aggressive players, then an opposite playing stance can be very effective. Hands should be weighed up very carefully; chip stacks should be constantly monitored. The point of the exercise in this type of table is to survive and let the aggressive players burn themselves out on each other, and come in at the finish to pick off the survivors. It doesn't mean that an occasional hand can't be played or even a bluff called. What should always be remembered is that aggressive players or maniacs as they are called in Holdem Poker terminology are difficult to read on a hand to hand basis.

In most cases, a poker table will be filled with a cross section of different styles of players, and a player who takes part in poker games with different people needs to learn how to mix their your game. Some players also make the mistake of thinking that if they have played a few times against a certain player; they will have already learned their style of play. That same player will have been studying you, and might even have read your style of play. Every game of Holdem Poker and indeed every hand are unique and nothing should be taken for granted.