Finding Good Games
Game selection is something novice poker players rarely take into account. This is a big mistake, and will definitely cost you money in the long run. If you take time to scout the games in which you play, and learn about your opponents, you will have a much easier time playing and winning.
Top online poker players have said in various places that they will not play an opponent they don’t know heads up. They take the gamble out of the situation by knowing the player and their tendencies before ever sitting down to play them. In ring games, many players keep databases of players raise frequencies and other pertinent statistical data, and display it next to them at the table using a heads up display, or HUD program. When you sit down, people who you may have never played with already know what kind of player you are, even if you’ve never played with them. Knowing this you can protect yourself from being ignorant of the game you are sitting in. Know that the regulars probably have data mined games you have played in before if you play on a regular basis, and have a general idea of how you play. This is standard in online games, so be aware of this fact and switch up your game from time to time to keep other players on their toes.
When you are looking for a game, be it live or online poker, try to find a game with a weaker, newer player. Not only does this take the pressure off of you if you are also new to the game, but it gives you someone to go after as well. If you find that you seem to be the weakest player at the table, quit the game and find a better one. There are games running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online, and there will always be another situation in which you have a larger comparative advantage. Find that game, and you will profit.
