Often in online poker, even the best players in the world end up broke or run through long stretches of break even poker. Of course, these situations could happen to any poker player and can be tough on a player’s mindset and bankroll. However, many times players bring these situations on themselves, by playing in bad games. Game selection, choosing the best possible games to play in, with the most fish, is paramount to your success in poker.
When I play at Paddy Power Poker I sometimes find that during the AM the games are tougher than during the PM, so I will change the time of day that I play to play against worse competition.
Become a Shark
Even if you are a great player that doesn’t make you a poker “shark”, poker sharks seek out bad players, get into their games, and take their money. Finding a site with the most fish can be a difficult task, as there are over 100 online poker rooms worldwide. It can be even more difficult when you take into account your specific game and stake level.
Online poker rooms that also cater to sports bettors or casino players will generally have better games and a more recreational player base. Even if the specific room you are playing at does not have a sportsbook/casino, other network rooms might. Some networks can share up to 20 plus sites or more, with all of them sharing the same player base. If even a few of these sites are mainly sportsbooks or casinos, you’re likely to be playing with a lot of fish.
Checking poker forums and reading poker blogs is a great way to look for the sites with the best games and offers. It’s a simple process and is really enlightening. There are definitely sites that have a reputation for having more experienced players or “grinders”, and those that have a reputation for mostly being populated with fish.
Player Statistics and Note Taking
It is really important to track your play and the play of your opponents. Most online rooms allow players to use third-party programs to track your hands, and import them into easy to follow databases. You’ll be able to analyze your play and the play of your opponents. This helps you determine who the fish are and who the sharks are. It will also let you learn the tendencies of all players, which will more you more profitable.
Most online poker rooms will allow you to color code other players – take advantage of this! You can mark them based on their aggressiveness and level of skill. Also, you can quickly jot down notes while you play to get even more in-depth about their tendencies. Practice your note taking and play online poker for free before you start to play for real money to improve your skill.
Quality Over Quantity
Poker isn’t about hitting a certain hand count or raking as much as you can. It’s about playing in good games against poor opponents. Trying to “beat the best” isn’t going to get you anywhere, find the fish and take their money.