Posted Thu Sep 23, 2004 2:35 pm GMT by BassHunter
Questions on sitting at a table full of people you don't know...
Do you actively search for certain habits/patterns right off or just sit back and let things present themselves throughout the course of the game?
If 'both', then what do you search for and what do you no think about until it happens?
If you actively search, do you focus on only a few players at a time or try to remember every piece of info all at once?
As far as betting habits, are opening bets or raising habits more telling of individuals in your experience?
Do you really count on the classic tells (looking at chips, checking cards, breathing, weak=strong, etc) with people that you don't know at all? Don't you worry tells are inconsistent or even contrived?
The reason I ask these questions is I feel I have a lot of the other ingredients down pretty well, i.e. hand strengths, pot odds, ideal betting practices, mixing up my habits, etc. But to me learning 9 new people seems overwhelming, especially when hands are frequently folded or few hands go into showdowns. I don't have any confidence reading people until I'm down to about 4 people. Then I try to watch people and start getting aggresive, but even then the only thing I can seem to get out of people is whether they are T/L or A/P and I play that accordingly. It very simplistic for me and I feel I'll need to expand before improving.
Let's hear your plan of attack on reading players right after the opening deal. Thanks!
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Posted Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:10 pm GMT by Davey Gorgeous
I can see how 9 new people can become overwhelming to look for tells... I would just try to concentrate on the reads of the players faces when they bet, when they see the flop, etc. and store this new information into memory. When the same person raises pre-flop scan your memory for the exact facial expression, betting habit, etc. made. Do as much as you can with that, but besides that... use your type of game, whether tight or loose/aggressive or conservative and make them play your game. When you must read someone and little information is stored about them, use your instinct. Sometimes try re-raising even if you have nothing to get information, if they have the hand you put them on or if they have sh*t. Overall, try to get what information you can and apply it when applicable, make them play your type of game.
Posted Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:15 am GMT by Nut Flush
I think more important than looking for tells right off the bat, you need to figure out what types of people you're playing against. Loose/passive, loose/agressive, tight/aggressive,, stuff like that.
You want to know who the calling stations are, who the rocks are, and who are the ones that will cap the betting with any hand. And just as important, where are they sitting in relation to you?
Also, pay attention to every single hand, even the ones you're not involved in. Who won? what did they win with? Did they raise at all? Did they make a bad call and catch a miracle? Who lost? What did they lose with?
I the card room I play at on occasion, everybody always shows thier hand at the showdown! I couldn't believe it the first time I played there. Why on earth are you showing me your hand if you lost? Of course, the only game they have is 1/2 limit so alot of the players rely on the dealer to decide the winner. Alot of them are retirees that are just there for fun.
Also, if the card room isn't full and you have time to watch the tables before you sit down, spend a few minutes and pick the one you want to play at. Watch a full rotation of the button if you can. After all, why sit in a table with 7 tight/aggressive players when just next to it is a table full of calling stations?
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