table selection - low content

I don't know where this post belongs so move it if you feel the need.

I no longer base my table selection on % to the flop or pot averages. I just look for tables that aren't full of shortstacked asshats. Give me a table with 4 out of the 5 players with 100bb stacks and I'm happy.

I just go on Party and do the join table with 9 people minimum thing and open up the first 2-4 tables it puts me on. I don't feel like waiting in a queue for the higher pot tables. However, this is something I'm thinking of changing. Do people here sit and wait for the "good" tables?

One thing that I thought about was - if ther are 3-4 people on a waiting list for a table (usually the case on party), that means 3-4 people will have to leave that table before you get on there. That is unless the people waiting leave first. If you think about it, the people that leave the table are probably fish that lost their stack and don't have money to rebuy. Rocks that get beat, just reload to stay with the fish. So, by the time you get on a table 3-4 fish are gone and 3-4 new players are there. People looking for the high pot tables are probably skilled since they are looking for a loose table. At least 1 or 2 of the waiters are probably campers. By the time you get there the table dynamic has changed.

Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by SmackinYaUp

I don't know where this post belongs so move it if you feel the need.

I no longer base my table selection on % to the flop or pot averages. I just look for tables that aren't full of shortstacked asshats. Give me a table with 4 out of the 5 players with 100bb stacks and I'm happy.

Lol! C'mon, those shorties are fun! They do all kinds of silly things and they're easy to pot commit!

So, by the time you get on a table 3-4 fish are gone and 3-4 new players are there. People looking for the high pot tables are probably skilled since they are looking for a loose table. At least 1 or 2 of the waiters are probably campers. By the time you get there the table dynamic has changed.

Any thoughts?

My sentiments as well. Not only are the spots typically taken by better players, but who's spots are they taking? They're taking the seats of the fish that bust out who contributed to the large pot sizes. So the fish are gone and replaced by rocks. Great table huh?

You also have to consider how the average pot size is calculated. On Party they count all money put into the pot regardless if the bets were called or not. I could go AI every hand on a $25 table and never get called but it would still list the average pot size as $25. Most sites calculate the average pot size based on the last 10 hands. One monster hand in 10 can greatly skew this number. Basically the average pot size isn't the best indicator of how a table will be. The % seeing the flop isn't the most reliable indicator either.

I just sit at tables randomly. Within an orbit, or two at the most, you should have a good read on the table texture. If it's favorable I stay. If it's not I just find another.

What is a good table VP$IP%? I try to aim for 45% or more as this seems to be loose enough to pay me off when I hit...

Originally Posted by renegaderob1

What is a good table VP$IP%? I try to aim for 45% or more as this seems to be loose enough to pay me off when I hit...

I haven't seen 45% on Party at 25NL in a long time. I'm looking at 29% - 35% commonly and below 29% about 1/3 of the tables I randomly choose and below 22% on almost 1/4.

I'll stay on any table over 25% since there will be 3+ fish still. If it drops closer to 20% then I look to leave - unless I am still winning.

Shortstacked asshats can be true pain, unless its realy shorthanded.

Originally Posted by Seabass

Shortstacked asshats can be true pain, unless its realy shorthanded.

They always eventually go broke, but in the meantime they are a pain in the ass. All they do is checkraise allin with any piece of the flop. You raise with KQs in LP, get a call from a shortstack UTG with a piece of shit hand like 7To and a call from a 100bb stack in MP. They both check, and its no problem to fold out the MP or at least play some poker, but the shortstack will checkraise allin over 50% of the time. Can't play an optimal game against the both of them in the same pot.

Sure its fishy, but its annoying as hell and not worth their 10 piece of shit bb's when I could be playing for real money. I kicked my own ass building up a bankroll to play in 100nl, not to start all over at 10NL with a strategy that belongs in blind level 9 of a SNG. I wish sites would add optional tables that had minimum stack sizes.

Counter-strategy: If a shortstack is in a hand with you, wait for TPGK or better to bet. They'll checkraise allin with any piece of the flop + all draws so call them. Be super aggressive with your hands against them because they can't wait and they'll end up praying for a suckout 75% of the time. Don't bluff or semi-bluff, its not worth the trouble. This strategy is the fastest way I've found to break them.

I also notice when i play at HU tables, they are able to join with 5bb's at my site lol. Just go ahead and put them in every hand except for your bottom 15%.

I just join any table, i used to care a lot when i was very tight, i would onlu join tables with VP$IP >35, but since i can mix it up it dosnt make much of a difference.
Short-stacked tables arnt too bad either, these guys generally like to gamble, and each time you pick up a nice hand you can make ~40bb's which is good.

Party is tight these days at 25NL. I'm happy just to see 30 VP$IP. I just 4 tabled for 3 hours and only made $30. Maybe it's this time of night? 10pm EST +?