Table Image

[tbone313]

I like to create a Solid Table Image. This will help you later in the game to steal blinds and pots. I love it when someone in small blind trys to steal my 10 chip Big Blind...this will set it up later for them to bet into you with a less superior hand at much bigger blind. I have nailed many a fish for alot more than the 20 or 40 chips they stole from me earlier.

Never try to steal small big blinds...this is a red flag for advanced players. Do not call bets in blinds with marginal hands. I would rather fold creating a stronger table image for stealing those 150 and 200 chip Big Blinds when they really count. I also like to fold small blinds with terrible starting cards. This also helps for you taking down a pot with a bluff in late position...I would never do this so don't call me.

I watch players early in the game and if they seem to over bet small pots stealling 40, 60, 80 or 100 chips with 2x pot to all bets more than a couple of times these are the players to focus on...we have all seen players like this. I wait till the opportune moment and take advantage of this sitsuation. These players love to steal pots and they are easy to trap. Check to them they will bet bottom pairs and maybe nothing. Check again and they will push harder until you can finish them off with one last bet.

TBone

[Randy C]

This is a great post! Table image is extremely important because even in poker, first impressions are lasting ones. This is where taking notes is crucial. Rather than getting mixed up in hands in the beginning of a tourney or sit and go, I'll sit back, watch, and take notes on the way people play at my table. This will help make my decisions in latter rounds when the pots are decent sized and actually worth getting into.

I have seen player's get into the action early on in a tournament, and they build up a really giant stack. As the tourney goes on, those big stacks dwindle because the skilled players, who have been watching them, use the information from those previous rounds to take chips away from them.

Additionally, by playing a solid game yourself, you build up a reputation as a tight/aggressive player and thus you are able to make "moves" to steal pots in latter rounds or to bluff out someone of a decent sized pot.

Great post Tony!

All In,

Randy C -