When Did It "Click" For You?

How long before you really started to pull together all the concepts of poker you had learned to help make it profitable for you?

not yet. been playin for a few years but have yet to have a big impact online.
just starting to finish regularly in the money to be honest.

I think that is beginning to happen to me now. I have been playing poker for the last 5 or 6 years but only really stated to take it seriously for about a year

Well, I am not setting the world on fire but I am profitable though only in the micros. It took about a year for things to click. Three things have helped me.

1. This forum. In particular OZExorcist made a post on building from a baby bankroll that should be stickied by someone in power Building from a baby bankroll

Also, when it comes to cash games anything that WVHIllbilly or Stu Ungar post is gold. There are other great posters but that will certainly get you started.

2. Training videos. I personally use Deuces Cracked but Drag the Bar is heavily involved in this forum and they have some great coaches. You can't go wrong with either one. I found that videos really helped me see how to apply concepts that I had read about previously but had not been using correctly.

3. Dusty Schmidt's book "Treat your Poker Like a Business" was inspiring. It kicked me in the butt and I got focused on playing a lot and working on my game in a more structured manner.

Probably more than anyone wanted to know but I'm pretty fired up about improving my poker. Also,while it took me a year or so to start showing a profit. Most of that time was because I was not doing things properly. Once I started doing the things listed above my progress leaped forward and since the end of September I have been trending steadily upward.

Bill

All great info, everyone.

And Bill, I agree, there are some great resources available here and I'm trying to learn from what knowledge and expertise already exists.

In particular, I really like this thread where Stu made a good point and debpes made one that really resonated with me: "They're not bluffing as often as you think."

I think I try and catch other people trying to outsmart me sometimes and it ends up costing me the past hour's worth of good play all in one chunk.

It's hard to learn how to lay down those AA and KK when you get a lot of resistance, but sometimes I just need to learn when to slow down and understand how to put my opponents on hand ranges.

Thanks for your input everyone.

I have been playing poker since birth (not really, but taught at a young age) and I still can't turn a good profit.

It has become a free hobby though (as I haven't deposited in over 3 years and have taken well more than that out.) which is good enough for me. Since I do have a job... at the moment anyways.

Couple years and a lot of experience by playing a lot of hands and tournaments.

It starts to become like second nature, where I can pretty much read everything that's going on at the table and what people are doing. IMO experience and playing a lot are key, because poker has patterns and they change..If you are not constantly playing you miss these and do not have the edge others have.

Also a big leak is spewing or tilt, some never conquer this and never become a winning player over long term play.

I am still learning myself but i believe things are "starting" to click. I have been doing this only a few months now and started knowing absolutely nothing. I thought reading a book and some articles would let me make money.......i was wrong lol. Poker is a very complex game and im JUST now starting to understand how to play cash games profitably. Im still faaaar from good but things are getting clearer. I can say sitting around waiting for premium hands is NOT the optimal way to play NL hold em while tight is good you need to mix your game up. Mixing your game up will allow you to get paid when you do actually have a hand. Also POSITION POSITION POSITION!!! I try to play mostly from the button or cutoff mainly cause im not confident enough in my game yet to play aggressively out of position. Position is key tho and allows you to be the aggressor and win pots. I will however make plays from the blinds occasionally depending on the situation. I play 6max by the way.

Also aggression, if your checking and calling a lot your playing weak poker. Put the pressure on your opponents and force them to make the tough decisions. If they play back proceed with caution cause they probably have a strong hand.

these are some things ive learned. making good decisions, being patient, trying to put people on a range of hands, using stats to assist in putting someone on a range, etc etc.

right after I read Gordon's book.

Oh I get the 'clicking into place'...every few weeks atm.
The first week I was playing random nonsense. Then I read the rules.
Then I got nervous about everything cuz I knew I couldn't play, and everyone else could.
But after about a fortnight I thought "I get this", Then I learnt a new trick. Raising. Thought ''I get this now''. Then I started reading forums. Thought "im getting this". Then I realised I didn't understand most of the posts on the forum.
Then I got nervous, cuz 'I knew I couldn't play and everyone else could.

Then I began scouring the articles online. ^^see above^^
Then I began check-raising ^^see above^^
Then the forums started making sense ^^see above^^
Then I began playing for money ^^see above^^

Then I got my ass kicked by a better player ^^see above^^ ^repeat often^

I'm still waiting for that click! I have good runs and I have bad runs. Am I a good player? I still have no idea

I dont know how many times I have thought that I have found "it", and ending up a loser in the process.
For us who lack talent there is no short cut to success.

I think different things "click" at different times. The latest click for me is to find where your niche is and play that.

Im a losing cash game player, for the most part a losing MTT player (with the rare big score). But I have showed a consistent grinding profit at Sit n Gos. Not putting the world on fire but has finally clicked to stay away from my weaknesses and concentrate on my strengths.