Poker Tips: How to Choose Your Seat

One of the factors that distinguish expert from average poker players is how they choose their seats. Ordinary players will either pick a chair at random, or rely on superstition or gut instinct. An expert player, on the other hand, studies the table first before making an intelligent decision. Whenever you have a choice of seats, you should do the same as they. In positional poker games such as Texas Hold'em, it can make a big difference in the long run. Next time you go to play Hold'em in a live casino, try these poker tips.

Poker Tips for Choosing a Seat

1. Sit to the left of loose-passive players. Since action moves right to left (clockwise), they will put money in the pot before you do. This helps when you want to raise or check-raise and need someone to call before you do. If you were on this calling station's right instead, you would have to act first and they might fold.

2. Sit to the left of very good players. You need to keep an eye on these expert poker players, so you want them acting before you do as much as possible.

3. Sit to the right of players who are not fond of defending their blind bets. If everyone else checks, you can try to steal the blinds with a wide range of hands since they are unlikely to put up a fight.

4. Take a seat on the left side of players who rarely try to take the blinds. This will save you money and is the opposite of what is above.

5. Sit on the left of the player with the most chips. You want the player with the most money to act before you do. This helps you prey on them.

6. If you are bringing in plenty of chips, do not sit on the right of aggressive players. They will pounce on you whenever they can.

When choosing a seat, ignore looks. Do not sit beside an attractive person just because they are. Do not sit beside friends unless it serves your purpose. You are playing poker to make money, not to get chummy with anyone. Of course, this applies to casino poker. In home games, where poker is played more as a social pastime than a source of income, it is okay to sit just where you like Or where your "inner voice" tells you.

Enjoy and keep playing poker!