How do you approach a new table?

I suspect that this has been discusesd here before, but I can't find anything in the archives so...

How do you appraoch playing at a new table? Assume that you've never played with any of the players at the table when you sit down and plan to play for 4-5 hours. (This makes it different than a tournament sitautoin) What do you consciuosly look for and what kinds of evetns make you sit up and take notice? Do you have a "sysatem" for collecting informatoin?

Pionters to previous threads or sites also appreciated.

I like the "play like an idiot for a few hands" rule. Limp in with your first hand however bad it might be (or raise!) & pray you hit two pair with your J6 offsuit. If you hit it good! If not, moan and be like, I had one pair, and muck face up.

Their eyes light up!

I usually lie in wait, observe from underneath a nearby table, & pounce when a seat opens.

I always plan to play which long, but I usually bust out in 2 .

(This makes it different than a tournament

Thats me. I always play the same people, cause when ever I eneter the room, they always have a seat ready for me. I love my poker table freinds!

Usually from behind the empty chair. It's oddly frowned on to climb over chips and leave footprints on the felt.

For the first few ruonds, I'll play passive tight, and get as many reads on the other players styles as I can. I want to know what types of hands they limp with, raise with, and cold call raises with. Then I like to make adjustments to my play. If I feel the table is rock tight, I'll open raise more with hands like AJs. If the table seems loose aggressive, I'll tighten up more, and look for deeply trapping opportunities. If the table looks tight aggressive, and I can't find the fish in the first half hour, I'll look for a table change.

Then I'll all that advice out the window as I get a better feel of the players. Who folds their blinds. Who come bets. Who raises for free cards. Who's an idiot who'll call any bet or raise with trash and pay off at the end with an A high hand. IOW, play the players.

At the table you almost have to become a quick learner, with a good memory, and good intuitive skills. If you play the same people over time, you can afford to be a bit more analytical away from the game.

One thing that you should look for when approaching a table where you know nothing about any of the players is the chip stacks. Not necessarily the size, but the arrangement of individuals chips. Look for the most unorganized chip stack and try to sit as close to that player's left as you can. Those players tend to play loose and reckless and can pay you off big time.

The Ogre
ogrespokerpages.blogspot.com

Wow, TheOrge - that's a piece of advise {Feel-good-000200BB}