Creating a Table Image

Creating a table image when playing poker is easier than most beginners to online poker would think. It’s one of the “tools” that will benefit you at the tables when grinding away, or in the tournaments as well if used properly. Before we go any further lets find out what type of player you are.

Loose/Aggressive - If you play loose/aggressive you are the type of player that’s not afraid to make big bets or raises, and will re-raise others quite often. Being a loose/aggressive also means that you don’t need to be holding premium cards in order to take a shot at taking huge pots.

Loose/Passive - This is a style that most players really don’t want to be. You’ll know if you are a loose/passive player when you stay past the flop too often and waste money by betting past the turn or river with second rate cards, and don’t raise or re-raise folk when holding strong cards.

Tight/Aggressive - There are plenty of poker players that fit this style of play and do enjoy some success. You are this player if you fold before the flop quite often and only bet past the turn or river when holding great hands. The only problem with this style of play is that other players can and will steal your blinds a lot when you’re not holding the nuts.

Tight/Passive - This style of play isn’t as non-profitable as loose/passive, but it’s not the best either. This player will fold before the flop quite often, wait for big hands to play past the flop, and does not take advantage of his big hands by making raises. Much like the loose/passive style, it’s best to move away from being a tight/passive player if you want to make money with poker in the long run.

Setting the Image

Now that you know what type of poker player you are, we need to decide which image you want others to see at the felt. Loose/aggressive is a great category to be in since many of the best cash game players in the world play loose and aggressive, but my opinion is that you want others to think you are the tight/aggressive type.

Many newcomers to online poker may wonder how this may be possible. The answer to that is by choosing the right times to show your hole cards. That is one of the features I really like at Carbon Poker. You can show either one or both hole cards at this online poker room. Besides PDC Poker, I can’t think of another online room that lets me do this.

Every so often I’ll show that big hand pre-flop if everyone has folded to my raise just to let them see I was raising with a monster hand. You want others to “see” you only raise with big hands. This will improve your overall table image and gain that respect from opponents. Your future raises will be called carefully and anyone looking to re-raise will remember your style of play and might think twice. This will set up that tight image and allow you to play and even pull off the big bluff with the smaller hands at times.

Just remember to always play both the small and big hands the same way and be cautious, as the more advanced poker players can pick up on your style and make the necessary adjustments.

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