How To Play Poker? Everyone Has a Theory?

Recently I have been reading two books on online poker "Winning at Internet Poker for Dummies" and "Killer Online Poker". I began to wonder with all the different books on poker, the different theories about how to play different hands, and all the advise you get from the pros and the magazines (who is right?). Does it do any good to read all the books and magazine there are and watch it every chance you get on tv or does it just come down to the moment of each hand your playing as to what you should do. I realize that reading and watching are great tools to help you decide what to do in certain situations but does anyone stick to one way of playing according to a certain book or by trying to immitate a certain pro? I think once you come down to the moment it should be based on all the information you have gathered and the gut feeling you have about how the person will respond to your bet or check. Just thought I'd ramble a bit, let me know your thoughts too.

There's no such thing as too much knowledge. Read as much as you can, but don't take any single book/theory as the 'right' theory.

Realize that most books out there are very general, and realize that you should take their advice with a grain of salt and adjust it to your level of play. No two situations in poker are the same, and so there is no 'right' way to play, say, AA. You might limp-raise vs an aggro player, you might open push all in vs a calling station, you might raise a standard 3-4BBs etc etc...

I'm rambling too, but my point is that reading never did any harm - as long as you don't take what you read and accept it as the only way to play. Mix and match your own style from all the information you gather from books, articles and forums.

What Chuck said. Every player has a style of play that works well for them. The more opinions of play you get the better, it just only helps you to incorporate certain tactics into your own game. Some peoples advice will not work for you no matter how sound it is, but you might pick up another tip that makes you that much better of a player. Play your style and if you see something you feel comfortable with try to incorporate it.

Killer online poker sucked. There are good books on poker and you should read many of them. But you need to fit to your style and what you are comfortable with. Plus there is no replacement for experience.

Plus there is no replacement for experience


Definetly agree.

what i like doing is getting a magazine and picking up a tidbit of helpful info right before a tourny......seems to help.

The great thing about poker is you never stop learning.

I think you can read the books and know the percentages, but when it comes down to it, it's pure instinct.