Is it possible to study the game TOO much?

Hi all. I've been away for quite awhile I trust that everyone has been cleaning up at the tables

Anywho, I am constantly reading new books and trying out new things. I'm not sure if I am the only one who has this problem but it feels like every time I start to really work on a new aspect of my game it really goes south for awhile. I'm talking deep south here folks. Is this common? Am I trying to do too many new things at once? Should I maybe just stick with what gets me paid?

I'm sorry if this is as clear as mud. I have been trying to adapt some small ball strategies to my game. Normally I play a strict TAG style and it all just seems backwards. I have basically lost all confidence in my game and my decisions since trying this new style. I even tried reverting back to my previous ways and I seemed to have confused the hell out of myself. Should I maybe just hit the books some more and step away from the felt for a bit until my head clears up?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

The thing that helps me the most when makng adjustments to my play is go to the play money tables and practice there. I don't think you can study to much, but sometimes it takes time to adjust your play accordigly. Play money will allow you to practice somethings without losing money.

Ha, the same thing always happens to me, too. With such high expectations after studying so much, it's hard to take.

What helps me most is to not worry about it. Play well within your bankroll and lose if you have to -- it'll be good for you in the long run. Any new skill takes time to implement well.

I've dabbled in the small ball recently, too, and I've had about the same results as you so far. At micro games, it seems better to play better hands and make bigger raises -- people will pay you off.

i would say stick to what you play best, if you play NLTH for example, why would you change to a different game you may not be so good at,its ok to play the other games,Razz,stud,etc. but if your playing for real money stick to what your best at,thats how you become a winner,,,,gl,,,,,,,,,,,,buck

Stick with what you know and don't ever go against your gut feeling. If your studying tells you to call but your gut tells you you're beat give it up. There's a balance in there somewhere-find it.

I think you can study too much.. I'm not much into the poker books , but i like FTP academy. It seems like the more i learn about poker, the worse i play. You can't play someone else's game , you have to play your own

While technically you have a point, typically when someone is unhappy with their game (unless they're just a perfectionist), it's because they have a lot of room for improvement. In other words, "their own game" isn't good enough. Improving means doing things differently, which means stepping out of your comfort zone. It's normal in anything.

I'm an obsessive personality that tries to excel at anything I take on. I've played pool for about 30 years, competitively and recreationally, and was as much or more a student of that game as I am with poker. I once hired a well-known coach in pro circles to come to my home and work with me all day on the table, videotaping the entire session, and it's one of the best investments I made -- however it sucked making some of the changes, and required a lot of practice, during which my game tanked. It takes awhile to get comfortable with change, even when it's positive change, and get your confidence up.

So yes, while you must "play your own game," you must also realize when it's time to step things up and step out of your comfort zone, otherwise "your game" will never change and improve.

Also, for poker you have to consider variance -- just because you're seeing a short-term downswing doesn't always mean your game is in dire straights. It might just be the inevitable variance, so don't go changing what you're doing right just because of it.

It may depend on the stake level your playing on as well. Trying to implement high stakes game theorem to micro stakes doesn't work too well as I have found.

i go through this too. although my latest book put my on a serious heater. I'm more interested in training videos no. IE stoxpoker or cardrunners. its one thing to read something in a book but another to see and here it in a video. I've done 2 weeks at stox and a week at cardrunner and feel I've learned more than i could from any book. i also hear great things about deucescracked but i get stox and cardrunners free at trulyfreepokertraining.com. so you might want to put the books down and watch some videos.

The more I read the worst I play and more confused I get. I think I understand the idea's in the books but at the tables the results are worse than before I read the book. When I take only "ONE" new idea and "slowly' work with it then I improve; ...slowly ...very slowly!

More knowledge on any subject will never be a disadvantage. Many specialize in an area and become very proficient in that area. I can't see anything wrong with that. Changing things up every once and a while to keep and give the brain muscle some exercise can only be healthy. In the end, every one needs pay dirt by sticking with your speciality and cashing every once and awhile.

I don't think you can study too much.... But I think sometimes after you have study for a long period of time, it could be best to not play for a few days and then test yourself to see if you all the studying really help or not.........

poker is basic arithmetic...don't over study it. If studying it takes away from your intuition or read than you are going too far. Good luck.

Poker has an element of basic arithmetic in it but it is a small part of the game. Even though we play online, we are still (for the vast majority of the time) playing against real people.

Stop studying for a while, relax, enjoy the game. Do it on play money tables (highest buy-ins available) if you want. As for the small ball part, be daring but try real hard to NOT be stupid (I reserve poker stupidity for myself alone).

Find the zen in the game if you can. Another term for that zen, might be rhythm.

I had that same problem a while ago, i was happy with my game, but i felt like i was missing something, so i decided to read my first book, and on my first day, i read 1/3 of it and it all went down hill from there, i don't know what happened but something threw me way off and im still trying to recover, i think it might be the high expectation of your new found knowledge, expecting things to go just like the book and trying to do too much, so i think the best way to learn is to study up a little at a time, but i don't think someone could ever study too much, you should just take your time.

If you ever want to compete with the best at the higher nl online games like 5/10 and 10/20+ you must always be improving and working on your game if you hope to achieve a solid win rate.

Sure you can take breaks but if you are serious about the game you can always get better.

It never hurts to study, and there is so much to learn on this great subject. However I think most upcomming pro's will tell you the biggest mistake people are making lately is playing by the books to much. You have to develop your own game, as someone above mentioned, and while learning from books/forums/etc. will improve your overall knowledge of the sport...only playing hundreds of thousands of hands will really make a big impact on your play level. Find your game, play your game.

I'd have to agree with what most everyone else is saying, no you can't really study the game to much. You can take in too much, to fast and not really absorb what you are learning. That can really hurt your game. Adding something into your game that you read once in a book, but don't really understand WILL hurt your game. However, if you take the time and really understand what you are learning (read, re-read, stop and think, get others opinions, etc) it will do nothing but improve your game. If you are noticing that your game suffers after you implement something, take a little while and do some more studying on that topic. There are so many different situations in poker, and none of them are exactly the same. One thing that I've noticed also is that a small break from poker doesn't hurt. Take some time away from the tables. Still work on your game (go over your hands, read forums/books, watch some videos, etc) but don't put to many hours on the tables.

Agreed, if you choose to study something, make sure you actually learn the material, and practice it!

I would like to thank everyone for their input.

I must admit that I never really thought it was possible to study too much. I am a firm believer that knowledge is power. I was REALLY wondering if others experience these down swings while trying to add new things to their game.

It can be so very frustrating to try and better yourself and actually just make things worse. It leaves you disillusioned and confused (as I am currently.)

In situations like this I find myself questioning every move I make. I now find myself doubting certain plays that were once standard weapons in my arsenal. I just wish I had my confidence back because we all know that playing with "scared money" isn't very effective.

I too have been studying too much. I let the books rule my head & felt that I was losing confidence in my feelings for the cards when I would make stupid moves & lose!
But now I take deep breaths, sit out a hand or two, remember that I love poker & it's JUST a game...and go on! I try NOT to play at all when I'm 'on tilt'! But things happen in poker...I was reminded by a very good player & friend that 'poker is a cruel game'...and it can be just that! You win some & you lose some...hopefully it averages out in your favor though!
I'm only in my 10th week EVER playing poker...was thrown into the deep end of the pool without a life preserver by the above friend...and have alternately been sinking & swimming since ! But, I've also burst through the bubble once...and can feel the taste of 'winning' in my mouth!
Play for the FUN...don't play with your own money unless you're prepared to lose it if you feel confidence in yourself is slipping...step back & relax...whatever it takes to get the JOY back in your game! Oh, yes...don't EVER stop learning or trying to better yourself in any way! Best of luck...unless you're my rival(LOL)...see you around...on the felts & here at CC!

Some people are crazy and overstudy poker they have the statistics right out of their head and all that, but for me a very important part of poker is just plain instinct.. I know how to play very well but doing it by the book doesn't always work for me and I win mostly with my own style and instinct..

if you play and study at a 4:1 ratio you should be fine. 4 hours of play to 1 hour of study. so if you want to study more you really got to put some time in on the tables to do so.

Just curious, where did you get that ratio?

Yes, it is certainly possible to study too much.

Most of the problems come in cramming too many new concepts, poorly understood concepts, into your play. Of course you feel off-balance.

I find that the FTP poker academy challenges are a good way to incorporate discrete bits into your play -- and to see what those particular bits accomplish in the long haul. Once you see what certain specific techniques do, how they make others act and react, and evaluate your own comfort level with each particular tidbit/tool, then you can try your own twist on that tool.

It's like learning anything. You can't really take off (successfully) on your own way of doing whatever it is until you have the basics under your belt. And, nowadays, the poker "basics" are a good deal more sophisticated, thanks to books and other learning tools.

Just take it one step at a time.

i've heard it here before. but i just can't find it now. i'm thinking now it was like 3:1. as a remember they said if you played a 3 hours session you would have 1 hour to review it after. the hour studying could be used reviewing posting hands on cards chat. reading... but i know i've heard a few times since too.

I think it is possible to study the game too much especially if you are talking about studying meaning reading poker books since there are alot of poker books that have different views and different tactics. If you do too much studying then your game can be ruined because of the different precautions and rules different books stress to the readers. I think it is better to learn how to play poker by experience just play play chips or small cash game to get a good feel on how you like to play and what styles of play is most successful to you. I think that poker books are completely bogus because there is no right way to play poker, and there is not one way to be successful for example phil helmuth and gus hansen they both play such different styles and they are both very successful playing poker throughout their carreers.

I think there is a difference between online poker and live poker when it comes to this question. I don't think you can ever study too much but I am not sure it really helps me as much with online poker. Also, imo the more I study the more I notice that it is just different players opinions of what is best to do.

Ok guys, I am NOT book bashing. I think you would be stupid not to stand on the shoulders of giants. Just be careful not to fall off and get trampled by them either haha

I might as well throw this out there, I am not a new player. I have been playing and studying for years. This is simply one of those times where I find myself questioning my strategy. I find myself wondering if this is just a down swing or if I am doing something wrong.

Frankly, I think the notion of just grabbing some cash and hitting the tables ridiculous. Sure, you will learn what works through trial and error but why? Why not get a helping hand along the way?

Maybe I should have worded things differently to begin with. Everyone ready for 20 question? :P

What do YOU do while trying to adapt a new nuance? Do you drop down a level? Do you bite the bullet and plug ahead? What do you do if you try something different and suddenly find yourself bottoming out? Is is a bad run or bad play? How do your tell? What if it IS just a bad run and the strategy is sound? Do you go back to your original game plan?