Table selection does not have the glamour of the check-raise river bluff or the thrill of catching that straight flush. However spending just a few minutes choosing the right table can have a significant effect on your poker profits.

Next time you log on to your favorite online poker room pause before you take that first available seat and ask yourself this – ‘What would be the perfect table for me?’. The biggest wins will come from playing with the worst opponents possible. Below are 5 ways in which you can find those bad opponents and give yourself an edge.

1) Look for the Loosest Tables.

Most poker sites show you the average percentage of players in each pot next to their table list in the lobby. Since bad players routinely enter too many pots you should look out for as high a percentage as possible. 35% or more is a good rule of thumb – if you can find a table with more than 50% of players in each pot then join the waiting list immediately!!

2) Which Tables Have The Biggest Pots?

Average pot size is another indicator of weak opponents. This is particularly true when combined with a large number of players in each pot. Bad players often go too far with their medium strength hands and big average pots are a good indicator of this. Look for tables with a pot size 50% or more above the ‘standard’ for the level you play.

3) Opponent Stack Sizes

Once you have identified the loosest big-pot tables make sure you check the stack sizes of the players sitting at the table. If more than 30% of the players are short-stacked (having 20 or less Big Blinds) then it may be more difficult to play good poker. Since pre-flop raising will often commit small stacks to the pot the range of hands you can play against them decreases. The best tables are loose, have big-pots and a majority of opponents with big enough stacks to pay you off fully when you hit that monster hand.

4) Table Position and Player Tendencies

The position of any free seat, in relation to the other players is an important next-step in selecting the best table. If the only free seat is to the right of a big stacked player who raises 6 times the blind every hand then you should look at the next table instead. Ideally you want to have the aggressive players on your right – this way you get to see their actions before you enter a pot. Spending a few minutes assessing your relative position can save you the headache of sitting at a table where you are unable to play hands without getting re-raised.

5) Keep A Buddy List

Some opponents are like your personal ATM. They are just so bad that they loose buy-in after buy-in. Make sure that you are the one benefiting from this. Keep a list of the very worst players and check the tables for them before you sit down. Many online poker rooms let you do this automatically. If you can sit to these players left that is all the better – the combination of a bad player and having position will put you in a very profitable spot.

GL Selecting Those Tables,

Mark Holland is an online poker pro and poker blogger. Aside from writing custom articles for PokerForums.org, he also writes on his blog where you can find more great online poker strategy tips and articles.