Leak finder week 1 - Table Selection

OK, I lightly touched on this subject before playing last night, and the partial thought, then playing has allowed me to setup some goals in terms of better table selection.

Background

It's worth mentioning what my background of table selection is. I've known about the concept from pretty early, and have tried to table select somewhat. Where my biggest weakness has always been is table selecting once in a table. I tend to just keep playing a table once there, so realising I'm not at the most profitable table and leaving is something I really want to introduce. The reason I've not done this well is probably lack of attention to detail. To table select while there, you have to be aware of what players are doing, and I'm usually too lazy to know for sure what this is. I might complain I'm playing too many tables sometimes, but if that's the case, then play less tables and table select properly, then add tables once you are table selecting well at a lower table limit. The bonus with choosing this leak to improve first is that to table select well, you have to improve your observational skills. So not only will I get off tables where the TAGs are, or where I'm getting 3 bet too much, I'll also have more of an idea on how certain players are playing.

Datamining

OK, first and foremost, Full Tilt lets you datamine, so don't deny it. I have a pretty decent buffer between when I can turn a computer on and when I get to sit down to play, so why not let PokerTracker keep stats on others. It's not an essential NL10 tool, but it's even useful at NL25, so is good practice. The biggest problem I don't always use that. If I see all of those datamine tables are full, I usually just fire up another table. As a first step towards improving, it's time to sit on waiting lists of extra juicy tables. If there is nothing happening there, looking at high flop percentages, with high dollars averages is a good start. This is purely to make sure you aren't getting on a nitty table, which might be good to push around a bit, but not so good to make money off (I think, although I should further investigate).

Stack sizes

So that's all before opening up a table. After opening, without any stats, like a new table from the lobby, I'll be looking at stack sizes compared with the open spot. Players to the left of us have position on us, players to the right we have position on. It's said money flows left, meaning that you should be winning more money on those you have position on, and the main guy you have position on is directly to your right. So the first thing to check is does he and the player to his right have a full stack. Why is this important? Even if he's loose, which is good to have to your right, if he only has 25BB's, you can only win a 25BB pot off of him. Plus, given that stack size, it's going to be push fold on the flop, meaning your positional advantage is not really important against this guy. It also reduces your set mining hands down to well below implied odds, so you can't call with 76s or 55 in position any more. Basically it's just wasting your positional advantage. The only reason is if you had history or know his stats, and you figure he'll probably bust soon and leave.

On the other hand, you don't care as much about full stacks on your left. Again, money flows left, so if the guys that have position on you don't have much of a stack, their positional advantage over you is minimal. It isn't as bad to have full stacks to your left, and it certainly helps if you steal a lot of blinds, but you really don't want competant full stacks, otherwise you are giving away positional advantage to a good player.

We have the stats

Once we have stats, there are a few more simple ideas. Firstly, are the players mostly playing regular stats like 18/12/2 + 20/18/4 + 14/12/1.5 + 20/11/1. These guys may not all be pros, but they aren't likely to give a lot of action without having the goods, so it takes a lot of pressure and probably tilting to get these guys to pay off. Where the levels aren't very good, you really want the biggest advantage possible, so playing tight players is not good news. Leave a table if there are too many tight players.

To our left

The main one I don't like recently is getting 3 bet a lot from a player to your left. If this is happening I will leave. Secondly, having a guy call too much with position on you may not be good. It's worth mentioning, both of these players will invariably have nothing on a given flop, so it's interesting to see if you can pick up post flop reads. Like if the guy that calls every CO raise you do calls cbets, then gives up on turn bets, he can be profitable to you. If he raises every time you show weakness, this can be profitable too. Another reason to have tighter players to your left is for stealing opportunities. Usually a steal is betting the CO or button, where you are likely to have position if called or 3 bet. If the two players to your left are tight, you can obviously steal their blinds easier, but can also steal from CO easily, and even MP easily. Of course raising every button, CO and MP will start tilting them, so this can be especially good if played right.

To our right

I'm not thoroughly convinced we need a loose player here, but the advantages are real. You can play a lot of pots in position with better hands. Having a full stack player limp call OOP too often is pretty nice. Having a tight player means he will have decent hands quite often, and you will only have your position advantage. Basically if you get a read that someone isn't playing well OOP, it's worth having position on them regardless of what stats they are, and like I said having a full stack gives you a big opportunity if they start playing back badly.

Other players. No real positional advantage, so just having looser players would be ideal. Overall, it would be great to see loose players all the table round, especially post flop. As I challenge myself more in table selection, I'll probably start trying to find some stats that mean more in terms of post flop play, rather than just relying on are they loose or tight pre flop.

Other factors

So finally, a couple of weirder concepts. Losing on a table. Even if the players are suiting me, if I can't get control of a table, let it go. I did this last night, letting go of a table I was down a buy in, and the next table saw me go up a buy in within 30 hands. There is a clause here. If you are just running bad, I like to move, as the table will start tilting you, but if you played a big bluff that failed and everyone saw, this could be a good point to stay to see if you have a loose table image now to help you get big hands paid off. If it goes further south, then staying is fine. Another one is tilt. If something on the table is tilting you, like a donk doubling up, or someone talking shit, don't feel compelled to stick around. Leave if you don't like it.

Summary

So that's all the concepts currently. My biggest weakness has been moving tables. I've always had a degree of trying to table select before sitting down, but then I'll play 150 hands before realising my table is full of TAG's and I've lost 1.5 buy ins. This is where I'm going to set a timer for every 15-20 minutes, to check the table I"m at. Look at stats, look at pots, etc. If it's all good, then keep going, if things have changed for the worse, then just leave and look for another table. I just have to be more active when it comes to thinking about the table I"m on.

I may come back and review this document as well as upgrade it as I learn more, but my main goal in the next week or so is to really improve my table selection.