Most amateur poker players have one criterion when picking the cash games they play in: are there any open seats? And this is a major reason why they will always remain amateurs. So for those who want to come out winners in cash games over the course of their poker days, it is essential to add a little more thought to picking which cash games to play.
The first thing you need to look at when picking a cash game to play in is simply what poker variation you wish to play. Of course this decision is not as easy as one would expect since there are lots of different variations which include everything from Texas Hold’em and Omaha to Crazy Pineapple. The best way to figure out which variation is right for you is to keep track of the results you have in each one. This will require logging some time in the different variations so just play low limits for a while until you figure this out.
Another important factor in choosing cash games is to find a limit you’re comfortable with. As stated before, begin in the lower limits to figure out what game is best for you, and then move up limits depending on how you’re doing. Remember though that you should ideally have at least 300 big blinds in your bankroll before choosing to settle at a particular limit.
Getting into more specifics when choosing cash game tables, the kind of table you’ll be sitting down at is crucial as well. Depending on whether you’re a loose or tight player, table dynamics will affect your success greatly. Luckily, poker rooms make it easy to find out if tables are loose or tight since they give statistics on average pot size in addition to what percentage of players are seeing the flop. Obviously, bigger pots and more players seeing the flop means that the table will be looser.
One last element to look at when choosing a cash game is what types of players you will be playing against. At loose tables, you’ll encounter plenty of players who will make frequent raises, or even go all-in in No-Limit games. And if you’re uncomfortable with this then a tighter table where the pots are smaller will be your best bet. On the other hand, if you hate waiting around for big pots and players who only play premium hands then the loose table should be your top choice.
Once you’ve figured out these four elements, you should be ready to pick the cash game which best suits you.
