Poker Strategy - Table Climate

Anything is possible, even finding a low-limit Texas Hold 'Em table that isn't loose. The fact is, however, that the great majority of low-limit games are loose in nature. First, we'll discuss what we mean by "loose", why it's the type of table you'll likely find, and how to play to optimize results.

By table climate, we're referring to the type of game being played. Is it an expensive game? Are there many opponents in the pot against you? Are they tough players or weak players? You need to do more than generalize an entire table, but there will be classifications that are prevalent even if they don't apply to every player. Notwithstanding specific players, a table will have a climate defined by the playing styles of the majority of players.

Your personal playing style will need to adapt to best play in a certain table climate. No one size fits all. If the game is expensive because players are betting often, you need to be more sure about the hands that you play. You're being asked to invest more money, and therefore can only proceed with more solid hands. This is an example of adjusting your style based on the climate of the table.

Passive Vs. Aggressive

The second designation of table type is passive or aggressive. By either, we're making reference to how expensive the players make it to stay in the game. At a passive table, players make far less bets and raises, more satisfied to check or call. At an aggressive table, players make far more bets and raises. There will be fewer occasions where a betting round goes unopened, or where a bet isn't raised by another player.

A loose table can be either passive or aggressive. What is important is that it is far cheaper to stay in a passive game and far more expensive to stay in an aggressive game. Like the designation of loose vs. tight, it will be rare to find a table completely one or the other. This designation refers to the more prevailing nature of the table, determined by the playing style of the majority of players.

We continue to assume that the great majority of low-limit tables are loose. From there, a low-limit table can be passive or aggressive. I argue from experience that there is not one nature greatly prevalent over the other where it concerns the bulk of low-limit tables. You will find both in your travels, and part of your skill in becoming a winning player will stem from how you adapt to one or the other.

Some Points on Tight Tables

There may be instances of either finding a tight low-limit table, or sitting at a low-limit table whose players start to tighten up for whatever reason. When this happens, alot of the advice given becomes reversed.

You might consider slowplaying a strong hand to make a move later, where a bet would have folded everybody. You might consider bluffing if there's only a small number of players in the pot who don't seem to have much. Bear in mind that at a tight table, players remaining in the pot have stronger hands than if they were playing loosely. This is especially true if there's been alot of betting, so make sure your hands are strong enough to compete. You'll also find alot weaker hands winning the showdowns at the end, since there are fewer opponents competing for the pot.

Like a loose table, a tight table can be either passive or aggressive. The designation of tight makes reference more towards the number of players that proceed into the further stages of the game. The style of those players as passive or aggressive is the same as those of loose players.

In other words, you're still free to play more hands in a passive game since your opponents will bet alot less. Bear in mind however that those players are likely holding strong hands. If one bets or raises into you, tread carefully. Otherwise, a tight-passive game is a collection of rocks, players who won't play many hands and won't throw alot of money around when they do. It will be tough to turn a buck at this table, and pots will not be big.

Conversely, a tight-aggressive game is a game of sharks. If you're sitting at this table, play a very tight game as you may be up against some solid players. Tight-aggressive play is preferred play among well-schooled players. They won't play many hands, but will come out swinging when they do. Assuming they get action, they will ensure they extract as much money as they can with their strong hands. Pots will be bigger than at a passive table, but there will seem to be a shortage of players involved in them.