Introduction

• Profit counts
  
• Finding profitable tables with and without software
  
• When to change your seat or leave the table
  

Strangely enough, table selection is ignored or at least strongly underestimated by a lot of people, including even very strong players. This can easily be seen by taking a look at the mid stakes tables on PartyPoker. It often happens that table is exclusively filled by TAGs. Not only is this an unprofitable situation for everyone, but the concerned players should also know better.

Why is table selection so important? Good table selection has a direct influence on the earning rate. All big winners follow one important rule of thumb: only play if you have an edge. Poker isn't about honour or competing against strong opponents. Quite the opposite! You should avoid these strong players. The main concern is your profit and you make it by playing against bad opponents.

Table selection gets more important the higher the limit is. On the lowest limits, there are fish wherever you look. The higher you climb, the less frequent they become. This means you have to make a more careful selection in order to put your poker skills into play in the most profitable conditions.

Good table selection contributes to your profitability almost as much as your raw poker skills. Everyone knows this quote: 'You can be the 10th best poker player in the world and you will still lose if you are on the same table with the 9 best ones.'

For those that have ignored this aspect so far, the following know-how, if applied properly, should have a huge impact. A lot of players build up their solid basic playing strength and know the most important principles in poker strategy by now. Their further development through fine tuning their skills will naturally progress slower from this point on. Table selection however is independent of your poker abilities and can give an incredible push to anyone that has ignored it so far.