When you first select a seat, what are the factors that go into that decision? You want a predictable rock on your left where you can"play his button:"

You want position on the players you are trying to get in a big pot against. You want position on the frequent raiser. It there is a very aggressive or a good player, you want at least neutral position. Keep in mind position all through the game on every bet, call, raise, or fold.

One reason to get there when the game starts is to select a seat based on where your opponents sit. In a ten handed game, I prioritize targets. You decide before you squat who to play a big pot.

Yesterday I sat behind a row of three to my right whom I wanted to play pots against and calling stations to my left. It was perfect. Then a loose new player came in to my immediate left late in the day. Although I did not stay all that long, I decided not to change seats because I had a lot of chips and was playing with the largest pots in mind by that time.

Pot limit games start with $3000 on the table. A few hours later there may be $12000 on the table. With only $100 up to $200 in front of me, I'll re raise all in before the flop with A,K. As the stakes go up, blind stealing becomes less important and more risky.

In the early part of the game, I made a couple of re raises to my major target to my immediate right. I moved in twice with A,K and lost both pots to J,J. Should have smooth called but I wanted it down to him and me. You have to give action to get action. I give action early when the game is small.

Late in the day when there were more chips in play, my strategy changed.
Then I had K,K, another fellow had J,J. and the big raiser had A,K. We got it all in before the flop and the Kings stood up. That's not a coin toss.

He is a gambler and loved me trying him on toss ups. Once my stack goes over $500, it isn't really going to be a toss up.

Being off loser means you end up with more chips in front of you as you make your comeback. I don't like having a lot of chips in front of me I did not win.

Starting position is so important. Remember I do not play online. It seems it would be difficult to select the seat with the precision that I do.

I made four Kings later and beat what I assume was a straight. Played unlucky making them against the shortest stack. It came K,K, 10 and I checked. An Ace came and I bet only fifty, he raised fifty, I raised fifty because he only had $100 left. He raised the last fifty.

When I get to thinking about leaving a game, I leave. I made a small score. I have what is called a short sack. A fellow I had never played showed to my left. We hear on the street he loses ten dimes in a college boy game on the previous evening.

He is raising frequently and small. I'm big blind and he makes it fifteen dollars and I am the only caller with 2,4 suited. It comes 8,6,2. He bets thirty. I call. It comes J. We both check. It comes 10, making a board of J,10,8,6,2. He bets forty and I call. Now I say, "I have a really big hand." He is reluctant to show anythng and just sits there. Now I am even more confident and I say, "I started out with a big hand and got lucky on the flop. I showed the pair of deuces to a surprised table. The game was really getting good but I rode off into the sunset. Johnny Hughes