01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 21, 2005

BY STEVE ROSENBLOOM
Chicago Tribune

EDITOR'S NOTE

Today we begin a month-long test of a weekly poker column written by Steve Rosenbloom, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Rosenbloom has been a sportswriter for more than 25 years and a poker player for even longer. His poker column is nationally syndicated by Tribune Media Services and focuses on Texas hold 'em, the current game of choice for tournament and recreational players.

You can let me know what you think of this column by e-mailing me at philk [at] projo.com. Please put "poker column" in the subject field.

-- Phil Kukielski, Features Editor

Discussion of table image usually refers to how your style of play -- tight-aggressive, loose-passive, etc. -- is perceived by other players at the table.

But table image can also refer to the style of the table as a whole. Some tables find a rhythm where everyone is playing fast. That is, betting big to take down pots early. Other tables run tight, meaning players wait for the nuts.

Good news is, whether we're talking about an individual's table image or that of the entire table, the advice is the same: Play opposite.

This bit of thinking, specifically regarding the table as whole, is outlined in the recently released book Harrington on Hold 'Em, by Dan Harrington, the 1995 World Series of Poker champion.

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do in every situation," said Harrington, a top chess player and a former backgammon champion. "I'm trying to tell you how to think. You make your own decisions." The gentlemanly Harrington, known for wearing a green Boston Red Sox hat at the table, gave a lesson in playing opposite his table at the World Poker Tour's L.A. Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino.

"If they would hit their hands, they would play their hands real fast," Harrington said. "Against a couple of the aggressive players, I would play the hands real slow. I check-called down and I got more money in the pot than if I had reraised." Harrington raised one off the button with A-10 of hearts. An aggressive player in the big blind called with A-J offsuit. The flop came 10-7-3.

The big blind, holding just ace-high, led out $1,500. Harrington, holding top pair, called. The turn came a 7 of clubs, putting a flush draw on the board. The big blind checked.

"Now, I'm fairly sure he has a weak hand and I shouldn't give him a free card," Harrington said. "But I know if the board comes innocuous, he's going to fire at the pot. Plus, I'm protecting myself if he has a club draw and a club falls on the end (by not putting more money into the pot on the turn)." The river came a 7, pairing fourth street.

"He bet $4,500," Harrington said. "Without thinking too much, I called. He turned over ace-jack.

"It was a total bluff on his part. I knew he was waiting to set up a bluff. Most people would've simply bet on fourth street, thinking they had won the pot. I decided to give him a free shot at it because I thought he would bet at it on the end."

TABLE TALK

Loose-passive: A style applied to a player who calls with a wide range of hands but doesn't bet them aggressively.