Table Image

I tried an experiment last night, letting my image turn to fish rather than building a strong presence. It worked out nicely in that I was able to use it to get the chip leader to try to push me around - in the end investing more into pots that I ended up taking (either by having cards that he didn't put me on or by making a bluff on what he thought was an obvious straight). Judging by how he played others at the table, if he had respected me, he could well have folded some of his calls and/or calling some of my bluffs. So my question then: Is it better to have a powerful table image or a fishy image, assuming that you build it and use it to play the table in either case?

I like to theorize endlessly about this. Personally I think it depends on the situation - number of players, mood of the table, and some other variables. If you can set up one kind of image and use it to your advantage at least once in a while, good for you.

Online I like to project aggression and looseness, to get paid off on my good hands. In home games I am happy with my image as a rock, because it means my bluffs are almost never called.

Originally Posted by dalecooper

I like to theorize endlessly about this. Personally I think it depends on the situation - number of players, mood of the table, and some other variables.

Exactly.

Perfect example: One table I was playing at was absolutely all over the place with raises. So I go in, say a few stupid comments and therefore make the table assume I'm a fish. Bingo, all of a sudden they are raising every time into me, allowing me to easily take their money.

Another table, very weak/tight. So I jump in, give a solid image, showing down good cards, and all of a sudden, they are folding to every raise I make.

It all depends on the situation.

Like others have said, it's very dependent on your opponents. In general, the best image to have is one of a loose and aggressive but good player. Unpredictability in your image is key as well, especially against good, observant players.

give off the image that the rest of the table generally has but play the opposite.