A question about the number of players at your table.

I wondered if anybody had any views about the number of players they like to have at their table.

I often choose to play at a table with about 3 or 4 other players.
I seem to have the idea that I need to establish myself at the table and I want the players to regard me as a strong player or one to be wary of. This takes some time - and I feel it's done in a shorter time at tables such as this than it's done at tables with say 6- to 9 players.

I know some players like to pick a full table. Is it more advisable to pick a full table? -simply because there is more money down?
Am I doing myself out of cash at the small table because I'm paying more blinds than I would at the fuller table?

I feel a lot more confident at a table when I've played a few good hands and won a few hands.
I'd like to maybe win some hands by slow playing well or setting a trap with the nuts.
In time the players get to know something about you. They remember what you did. They can become wary of you and this makes it far easier to win pots or steal blinds with less strong hands.

I feel more assured at smaller table numbers that they have noticed my play. Once they have seen that , say, I'm likely to re-raise big on, say QQ preflop, it makes it easier to do the same on lesser hands.

It feels to me a problem at multitable tourneys when you are repeatedly moved to new rooms. You work hard trying to get your 'reputation' only to be moved tables and have to do it all again.

I feel it's an important part of my game-not just what I can work out about how they think , but to make them thoughful of me.
(did that make sense??)

I think this is the reason why I choose tables of 3 0r 4 players most often.
It's easier there to try and establish a reputation.

Does anybody else have any views on this? What do you prefer?

7LETTERS

I feel that the main reasons to play short handed are so you can play a wider range of hands, and so you can bully more.

I prefer to play a full 10man table because it's easier to camp and wait for hands, which is my prefered option in NL25

I play both 6max and full ring. Admitedly, I tend to play more 6max because the action is faster and I don't have to wait for what seems like hours between each hand. I generally multi-table 2-3 tables these days (rarely 4) and I usually play 2 6max tables and 1 full ring table; there's more money to be made at the full ring by camping and waiting for the right hands to play but still nice amounts can be made playing aggressively at 2 6max tables (IMO)

Originally Posted by 7letters

I want the players to regard me as a strong player or one to be wary of.

I want people at the table to think I'm a weak player. That way they have their guard down and I DRAIN EM. There's no place for ego in poker. Respect means nothing in cash game. Deception means everything.

The only time you want respect is when you're blind stealing late in a tourney with high blinds.

I play exclusivly 6 max and i try to be one of the first three to the table simply because it means im learning about all opps as they are learning about everyone else.
On this level playing field i think i have an edge against the players i currentlyplay against, obviously this will change as i move up limits.
I dont like to join established tables simply because the other players often have a certain amount of table knowledge of their opps which i think puts me at a slight disadvantage, and i want every small edge i can get, while giving opps none

Good advice all round there, so thanks for the replies and I see what you're saying.
I don't think it's an ego thing on my part its more a case of trying to get some respect or set an image at a table.

I agree that it's sometimes good for your opponents to think you are a weak player. At the moment though I feel more confident when they think I'm a strong player and in general - they are scared of my hands. Maybe this is simply because I'm playing on a small bankroll at and feel the need to protect it a little, so I'm getting comfortable with picking up regular small amounts from callers with preflop or post fold raises or raising(or calling) from late pos with suited connectors or less. Maybe I do need to rethink my strategy a little.

I play my worst at tables when I sit for a long period without a decent hand. I feel my image suffers because I'm just folding-folding-calling-folding-calling-folding. I'm crying out for something half decent to just show that I'm capable of aggressive play. What happens then of course is when I do go, people shit themselves and fold. Anway I'm sure we've all had that situation at times.

I'm fairly new to poker, have been moderately succesful over a year or so, but realise there's lots to learn as my table stakes go up. You learn how to beat say 10cNL players regularly only to realise that the same plays wont work at the 25c table and must be altered again when you play at the 50c tables.

I'm new to these forums also and after reading around a little I see that my questions about table 'image' have been talked about and answered in part on previous postings also.

7LETTERS.

Is there a way of replying to a particular posting in here rather than just replying generally to the main thread?