Your Table Image
Your table “image” is the way your opponents view you at the table. This “image” will affect how other players at the table play against you. If you have a conservative image, players will respect your bets and raises and most likely not tangle with you unless they have a good hand. On the other hand, if you have a wild image, the other players will often play more aggressively against you and not give you credit for having a quality hand. Players form this image of you by watching what cards you play preflop and how aggressively you play your hands that get shown on the river. If every time you bet or raise you show down a strong hand you will definitely project a tight image. If you frequently get caught bluffing and bet with little or no hand, you will have a wild image.
After your opponents have an image of you firmly entrenched in their heads, you can play in a manner that is opposite to what your opponents think about you. If you have a tight image, you should now play more aggressively and possibly find an opportunity to bluff as your opponents now respect your bets and raises. On the other hand, if you have a wild image, you can play big hands super fast and still get action because of your wild image. Don’t bluff as your opponents don’t respect your bets and raises, but instead bet aggressively when you think you have the best hand and expect your opponents to call you.
Establishing an image and then exploiting it to your benefit is what poker is all about. Try and play hands to the opposite of your current table image for the most profit. Observe your opponents images as well and adapt your play accordingly.
