What’s a “Good” Table? Seniors Scene By George "The Engineer" Epstein
During a business/pleasure trip to Las Vegas and, thanks to poker gurus Jan Fisher and Alan Schoonmaker, I also got to participate in the weekly Las Vegas Poker Discussion Group meeting (a fascinating experience!) — I decided to check out the poker room at the Flamingo Hotel. It had been many years since my wife (now deceased) and I used to stay there and enjoyed the Flamingo Poker Room. Perhaps it was for old times’ sake and to recall fond memories — like the night I watched my wife playing hold’em: She held a king-high straight flush against a man who held the bottom end of the straight flush, queen-high. They kept betting and raising until he ran out of chips. Wow! You might say that was a “good” table for my wife. Actually it was a great hand; but I really can’t say anything about the “goodness” of that table.
What Makes a “Good” Table? When I arrived there it was getting late and I had a meeting the next morning with my coauthor, Dr. Dan Abrams; but a seat was available in the $2-$4 hold’em game. I soon found that it was a great! table, and I was a big winner. So, exactly what is a “good” table?
In a few words, it’s a table at which you are a winner!!!
But, certainly luck is involved. Factoring out the element of luck, what is it that makes one table “better” than another? Actually it is the people playing at that table, your opponents, who determine the “goodness” of the table. It’s a question of how well you can successfully apply your poker skills against those particular opponents.
PokerSharks Versus PokerPigeons
I play poker using my four basic rules for winning as described in my book.
Basic Poker Rule #2 states that a winner—a PokerShark— wants to play at a table with lots of PokerPigeons. The latter are players who go in almost every hand that is dealt, often staying until the end when they might fold when someone bets on the river. PokerPigeons play for the excitement and enjoyment of the game. (Is it possible they actually enjoy losing their $$$ to the other players?) You might say: They CAME TO PLAY. A PokerShark, on the other hand, PLAYS TO WIN! He plays by the rules and uses appropriate strategies.
He has done his homework by studying the books and analyzing plays; he has developed skills. The majority of poker players fit best in the PokerPigeons’ category but there are plenty of PokerSharks in the poker rooms.
How to Decide If It’s a “Good” Table
You cannot expect to win at a table full of PokerSharks. Don’t even try... How can you tell? Watch how many players go in on each hand dealt and then stay beyond the flop. A PokerShark will stay in only if he has a hand worth the investment.
If only two or three opponents consistently stay in beyond the flop, there are too many PokerSharks at that table. It cannot be a “good” table. The same holds true for other poker games. For example, in seven-card stud. watch how many remain in the hand after third street and on fourth street: If, hand after hand, three or more players are still in, there are plenty of PokerPigeons at that table. It’s a “good” table. Another indicator is to observe how many are drinking alcoholic beverages or having trouble staying awake. These too are PokerPigeons, helping to make that table potentially lucrative for you.
So what’s your opinion?
George “The Engineer” Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! (T/C Press, PO Box 36006, Los Angeles, CA 90036) A retired engineer who received many industry and government awards and commendations, he continues to be active by consulting, editing an international technical newsletter, teaching an engineering course at UCLA, and serving as an officer in a professional engineering society. One engineering society has a scholarship in George’s honor. In writing his poker book, he applied the lessons learned and experience while working as an engineer to solve problems. He is currently writing his next book on The Four Rules for Success in Life and Living. Reach George by e-mail: geps222@msn.com.
This article was published in the Aug 25th 2003 edition of Poker Player
George “The Engineer” Epstein is the author of The Greatest Book of Poker for Winners! (T/C Press, PO Box 36006, Los Angeles, CA 90036) A retired engineer who received many industry and government awards and commendations, he continues to be active by consulting, editing an international technical newsletter, teaching an engineering course at UCLA, and serving as an officer in a professional engineering society. One engineering society has a scholarship in George’s honor. In writing his poker book, he applied the lessons learned and experience while working as an engineer to solve problems. He is currently writing his next book on The Four Rules for Success in Life and Living. Reach George by e-mail: 
