Seat Selection

Context: Term article: 座位选择（Seat Selection）

Overview

Seat Selection is an important strategic aspect of poker, especially in mid-to-high stakes cash games and tournaments. A good seat helps players leverage position advantage, control pot size, and more easily gather information on opponents.

Selection Criteria

1. Position Relative to Aggressive Players

Players should try to sit to the left of aggressive (loose-aggressive) opponents, so they can act after them each round, gaining more information and using raises or re-raises to deny their bluffing space. Conversely, avoid sitting to their right, as always acting first puts you at a disadvantage.

2. Position Relative to Nits

Nits (tight-passive) generally only play strong hands and rarely raise. Players can sit to their right, making it easier to isolate with a wider range when they limp, or to continuation bet post-flop by exploiting their risk-averse nature.

3. Position Relative to Fish

Fish (recreational players) tend to make many mistakes. Ensure fish are to your left, giving you position advantage post-flop to maximize exploitation of their errors. Avoid having fish sitting in your blind position, as it may lead to frequent unclear raises.

Live vs. Online Differences

• Live Poker: Seats are usually fixed; players can observe table dynamics before sitting and choose the best available seat. Once seated, adjustments require a table change.
• Online Poker: Some platforms allow players to choose an empty seat when joining a table; if the table is full, they must wait. Seat changes can be made via the "change seat" feature or by leaving and rejoining, but rules may limit frequency.

Misconceptions

• Don't focus solely on position while ignoring opponent skill: Even with position advantage, facing an extremely skilled player may still be unprofitable.
• In tournaments, seat adjustment opportunities are limited; prioritize overall table dynamics over a single opponent.