Poker learning story

Poker learning story:
Being a military poker player while in service is quite different most likely because a group of troops in the barracks after a days training/working and getting a good shower and a good chow down are free to read, talk, etc., but there was always one or two games (usually low cost) to allow recreation and hopefully pick up some cold beer change. The biggest problem was that no one knew the rules 100% and we would make up the rules as we go. Needlesss to say that they changed from day to day depending on how you are playing. Was no Texas Holdem' in the 60's, so it was mostly 5 card draw, low or high hole card splits the pot, 7 card stud, dueces wild, showdown, several versions of dealing the cards, and dealers choice which caused most hands to be different. After a few cold beers, Lucky Strike, Camel, Pall Mall cigarettes, most players were confused from hand to hand.
Now Full Tilt/Poker Stars/Cardschat, etc. come along and boy is it difficult revising the old way you play to the new way. Being a retiree at age 72, wife deceased, 2 kids grown (unmarried - which leaves me no grand kids) I recently got involved with computer poker via a friend who has become a good mentor. The most positive thing though is that being without anyone most everyday, it allows me to keep my mind active and thanks to poker for that. I am on Social Security 100% now and if POTUS has his way it most likely will become, too costly to play for bigger tournaments, but thanks to the providers of poker, most of them have play money and that let's me play them for experience and learn how to read other players methods of play. Thanks to my mentor and his help, the past month it appears that my game is improving and I know it will most likely be up/down, but if I play more serious and like my mentor has advised me, maybe I can continue to improve. My first real lesson when in service was when I called a full house and another player called 2 pair and before I could rake the pot, he interrupted that he had 2 pairs of sevens. Tabasco is not nearly as hot as I was. The pot was not that big and a fight would only get me in trouble. Thanks cardchat and I am working on my entries so that eventually I can join my mentor in some of your games. Boston1993

Welcome and I'm sure you'll find some ways to improve your game here. For me, I'll take the online games over dealer choice high/low wild card no peek games any day.

Good post Boston... it is very obvious that you are improving your A game and you'll get even better with additional insight and playing. Jilly and I are on a CC Team together... he is a good mentor as well. GL, Wally

Good post, I grew up playing stud H/L and of course all the goofy games with wild cards. I think thats what helps my HORSE game so much cause 40% of the game is something younger players never played.
2 pair, 2 of these, oh and 2 more of these ! lol

2 pr of 7s/// lol...

Good story stick around you will soon be holding your own online, just keep working at it.

It's not all that difficult to be a winning player at the micro ring tables and / or in small buyin tournaments. So if your main goal is to play for recreation, you should be able to bring in a few bucks if you apply reasonable amounts of learning effort and self-discipline, largely because there are plenty pf players at those levels who don't (although some, maybe even quite a few, think they do).

Just keep in mind I'm talking about coffee money. It's a whole other step to making money that really matters.

Best of luck

A warm welcome, Boston! I would love to hear more stories about poker in the barracks--I'm sure you have many more. Love the part about making up the rules as you played--that must have been very interesting at times!

Cardschat is a wonderful place to work on your game, whether online or live. Unlike many other forums, the members here are open and more than willing to offer advice and analysis. The site itself is like an encyclopedia of poker--I've spent hours going through the older and archived posts and feel like I've just accessed the tip of the iceburg.

Another great thing about CC is that the members are all ages and come from all over the world--doesn't get any better than that!

Hope to see more posts from you. Also hope you find success on the tables enough to consider your SS just beer money. BTW if a guy called 2 pairs of 7s on me there woulda been a fight,regarless of what trouble came from it.