gabriel_409 0 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Hi all, I was at the casino for a full 11-hour session yesterday playing $2/$4 limit. I knew that I should have been observing the table, trying to detecting patterns and styles, etc from other players. I did not know exactly *how* to go about doing this. What is your observation routine? Is there an algorithm/flowchart? What exactly are you looking for? Each time a hand is dealt, what do you tell yourself as the bets come to pick up on the right information? Is there a mnemonic or filing system that you use as you see information to make it easy to remember? How do you organize your info? Thanks all. Really looking forward to getting some discussion on this aspect of the game Link to post Share on other sites
cu in 4years Dan 1 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 for a start general poker is really just a screwing around area, avoid if you want a serious answer.onto my serious answer.when i check a table out to find the best seat i look for certain betting patterns that show the most tight player and the most loose player.so i might sit at the rail for 30 mins or so and just watch the hands unfold.also look at stacks. if a player has a really shabby stack with chips not really stacked very well that indicates a sloppy personality, and therefore translates to the poker table as sloppy and loose play. the same goes with tight neat stacks to tight neat players.if you see a player with a tight neat stack then a stack to the side of the main stack which is a bit shabby, take advantage of this player.the sloppy stack next to the neat stack indicates that is his winnings, bet a bit more than the amount of his winnings and you are likely to take the pot down.things like that basically. Link to post Share on other sites
sanemancrazywrld 0 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Hi all, I was at the casino for a full 11-hour session yesterday playing $2/$4 limit. I knew that I should have been observing the table, trying to detecting patterns and styles, etc from other players. I did not know exactly *how* to go about doing this. What is your observation routine? Is there an algorithm/flowchart? What exactly are you looking for? Each time a hand is dealt, what do you tell yourself as the bets come to pick up on the right information? Is there a mnemonic or filing system that you use as you see information to make it easy to remember? How do you organize your info? Thanks all. Really looking forward to getting some discussion on this aspect of the gameThe mnemonic that I and many others have used to great success is:Aunt Hanna is loose, but facial? Not! Delay!It stands for Actor - Does the player seem like an actor, or are their actions normal.Hand movements - How do their hands look when they're betting.Interest - Do they show interest in the pot when they have a hand, or do they look away?Loose - Are they tight or loose?Bluff - Are they bluffers?Facial - What sort of facial expressions do they have when they bluff? When they have a real hand?Nut - Are they nut peddlers?Delay - Is there a difference in their timing that is correlated to the strength of their hand?This has helped me a great deal over the years in remembering what to look for. Hope it helps you. Link to post Share on other sites
suicideking 0 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 for a start general poker is really just a screwing around area, avoid if you want a serious answer.onto my serious answer.when i check a table out to find the best seat i look for certain betting patterns that show the most tight player and the most loose player.so i might sit at the rail for 30 mins or so and just watch the hands unfold.also look at stacks. if a player has a really shabby stack with chips not really stacked very well that indicates a sloppy personality, and therefore translates to the poker table as sloppy and loose play. the same goes with tight neat stacks to tight neat players.if you see a player with a tight neat stack then a stack to the side of the main stack which is a bit shabby, take advantage of this player.the sloppy stack next to the neat stack indicates that is his winnings, bet a bit more than the amount of his winnings and you are likely to take the pot down.things like that basically.Someone just finished Caro's book. Link to post Share on other sites
RabidTortuga 0 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 At $2/4 limit I think the best you can do is find general playing styles and broad tendencies, not only because the players aren't very sophisticated, but because you must still be developing your own game.First figure out who's playing loose and who's playing tight. For the tight players, do they ever raise preflop, or do they wait to connect with the board before they try and get their money in. For the loose players, are they on the any-2 suited variety, the high card variety, or are they just unaware of positional factores, playing hands in EP that should be reserved for LP, playing small pairs and suited connectors regardless of the action, etc. Especially look for those who will cold-call raises with poor holdings, as they are the biggest donators at the table, but will also create the biggest money swings and largest pots.Once you get the preflop tendencies down, look for those who slowplay their bigger hands, and those who will call down with any piece of the board. Figure out who only raises with the goods (most 2/4 players) and who will raise or even reraise with middle pair and a backdoor flush.If you really want to try and buttonhole specific betting patterns, start with the 2 players to your right and left, since that's where your money will generally come from or go to. As you nail them down, expand outward from there until you're really observing the entire table.Honestly, tight PF standards, correct and agressive flop and turn play, and general awareness of the broadest tendencies whould be enough to beat most B&M 2/4 games solidly over time. Remember to look for opportunites to build big pots when you have an equity advantage against the calling stations, and don't bother bluffing, or continuation betting out of position into multiple opponents with no pair/no draw.The easiest question to ask yourself when watching a player is, "What hands would he bet that way?" Try to narrow down their possible holdings each hand you're observing. You'll get better at it with practice. The necessary information tends to file itself in your brain if you just keep asking that question and watching. Link to post Share on other sites
Jeepster80125 0 Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 for a start general poker is really just a screwing around area, avoid if you want a serious answer.onto my serious answer.when i check a table out to find the best seat i look for certain betting patterns that show the most tight player and the most loose player.so i might sit at the rail for 30 mins or so and just watch the hands unfold.also look at stacks. if a player has a really shabby stack with chips not really stacked very well that indicates a sloppy personality, and therefore translates to the poker table as sloppy and loose play. the same goes with tight neat stacks to tight neat players.if you see a player with a tight neat stack then a stack to the side of the main stack which is a bit shabby, take advantage of this player.the sloppy stack next to the neat stack indicates that is his winnings, bet a bit more than the amount of his winnings and you are likely to take the pot down.things like that basically.I don't understand why you post like this. You're 16. Do you really expect anyone to take you seriously, esp. after your "25k downswing" and "67k underground tourney win" threads? Link to post Share on other sites
gabriel_409 0 Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share Posted January 13, 2007 I haven't played at a casino and at the table i lose focus with my friends. Online I try to look how much they raise with big hands, small hands...how they bet draws, what their checks mean, what hands they showdown, etc. Try focusing on the players left and right immediately of you. Then spread outward. One question I would like to ask do you play online poker? If yes then Poker pro lab has got a calculator which provides you with key statistics such as pot odds, chances of winning and outs These will have the most impact. Otherwise, it comes with playing many, many hands. Someone else will chime in. Link to post Share on other sites
aucu 3 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 I don't understand why you post like this. You're 16. Do you really expect anyone to take you seriously, esp. after your "25k downswing" and "67k underground tourney win" threads?Slam Link to post Share on other sites
Wandigo 1 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 for a start general poker is really just a screwing around area, avoid if you want a serious answer.onto my serious answer. lollerskates Link to post Share on other sites
finztotheleft 0 Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Great post Rabid Tortuga Link to post Share on other sites
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