I know it's a dumb question

Hi you all , I'm new at playing poker and i recently started playing online poker at Heracasino , and when I ask how to become a better player, a lot of people tell me forget the books and just play a ton of hands. Well I have probably over 50k hands now in various micro-limits in both LHE and NLHE, and it's hard to see much improvement. I hear that the lower games are harder, because no one folds.Question is, is just playing a trillion hand and multi-tabling the key to success??

Not a dumb question. You dont have to worry about getting ridiculed for questions here like you would at other forums.

As for your statement, you need to gain a fundamental understanding of the games, so you definitely need to do some form of learning. This can be through reading, watching coaching videos, reviewing hands, working out theory, or ideally, all of the above. Some people are either naturally talented at poker and can "feel" when a play is wrong, or are a complete genius. Most people do not qualify in either category and need to study the game in order to progress. Once you learn new concepts, you certainly need to put in the hands to see how they apply.

Lower games are harder because no one folds is a complete myth. In general, its people who bluff too much or dont get enough value on their good hands that make statements like these. Poker is not about who wins the most pots or how often you can bluff your opponent. It is ending up with the most money at the end of the day.

No it isnt. Sure experience is good, but analyzing your play, posting hands, reading other peoples input and so on is just as important IMO.
You dont have to read a book, but there is nothing wrong with learing things from a book.

One small tip. Look around on this forum. There are various articles on just about everything u need to know.

For some people reading the books helps a lot, for others playing the game helps.

Try reading at least read a few articles - either here at Cardschat (reccommended ) or elsewhere and i am sure you will find something that will help.

Its always good to hear others ideas on stratagy etc, after all the top pros still talk about their games to each other so why not everyone else?.

Good luck

Playing hands is only really useful as experience if you are paying close attention to the hands you play and reviewing them (using either the hand history or a tracker program such as Holdem Manager or PT3) in order to learn from your mistakes.

For me personnaly it was reading books that got me rolling.

Im not saying Im a pro but I am at least not donking my money away.

Id suggest what TenBoB told me....read Harrington on Holdem. They helped me tremendously

Also get a decent program to record your hands as recommended by Egon. They are extremely usefull to see where you are leaking.

A must is good bankroll management probly one of the most important points. There is a good article in the STrategy section on it.

Anyways good luck on the felt..

RAT

I would not muli-table till you get better at the game. Alot of poker is reading the other players. Knowing their betting habits. Try to make notes on players ,like if the go all in on a draw,if they slow play,or go all in preflop on suited connecters. Try full tilt learning academy gives you tips on all types of games. Takeing time to read a book does not hurt either.

This site is a great place to start. For me, initially, it was books, articles here and there either on the web or in magazines. As time went on, my research ended up here where I became an avid fan of this site.There is none better. Great stuff here and plenty of people who put in time and effort for us to benefit from. Good luck in your poker endevors.

2nd that

Play lots, post hands, take active part in the discussions in forums, review your own play, read what people suggest, and study study study.

You should read books. Whoever said don't read books about poker is probably tracking you down right now and finding your table, waiting to take money off of you.