How to Study

W

wilTurkey56

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
May 23, 2014
Total posts
81
Chips
0
I want to study poker real hard

However, I have the time and commitment but I just cannot settle on a programme. I listen to podcasts, watch youtube, play live, play online, watch tv but I do not feel I have a structured 'timetable'

Any advice as to what % I should be splitting my time between the above mediums?
 
S

Sohmurr

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Total posts
197
Chips
0
First off, discount "watching TV" as study in poker. Poker shows are not teaching tools. The hands they show are usually selected for maximum activity to provide better entertainment. Even if that weren't the case, a correct decision made by them will likely be incorrect in a micro/low-limit game.

I'm not familiar with poker podcasts or Youtube instructionals, so I can't speak to them.

Personally, my main source of education (outside of playing) was from books. "The Theory of Poker" is still a great resource.

But I would conclude like this: if you feel you have a good sense of the fundamentals, the large majority of your study time should be analyzing hands you've played. After each session, go back and look at all the hands in which you were actively involved. Then critically analyze every decision on every street of every hand. When you are unsure about your play, post here and ask for some feedback.

Outside of active play time, 75%-85% should be analyzing the hands you played. The rest should be reading articles, books, forums, etc, and watching quality videos and podcasts relevant for your level of play.

Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
Ivab

Ivab

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 29, 2016
Total posts
372
Awards
2
Chips
0
All that you write for education and improvement in the game of poker. But I think just need to play more. Well if you have help in the analysis of your hands on a good poker player. Understanding of the game comes with experience. After a while, there is an individual playing style. The main thing that was a desire, time and desire to learn to play well.
____________________________________________
Good luck in the game and life;)
 
Fernanda37

Fernanda37

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 11, 2016
Total posts
152
Chips
0
Thats depends... Just you can set your time for study... but you need to split this into study and practice
 
Alex Sentsov

Alex Sentsov

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Sep 29, 2016
Total posts
1,574
Awards
2
Chips
102
Need to play more tournaments. Then analyze your wins and failures. Then not to repeat them, in the sense of failure.
 
iosif18

iosif18

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
May 17, 2014
Total posts
641
Awards
1
Chips
1
....

First of all every time you play poker you learn something new .The best starting thing is to learn the odds .How good is your hand and the percentance of winning .Even brunson said everyday we learn poker ;)
 
V

vassiriki

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 2, 2016
Total posts
135
Chips
0
analyzing hands will only tell you what you are doing wrong most of the time. if you want to improve your understanding of the game, i think you should better look to the "game theory", first and foremost.

what and why do generally people do things they do and when? on what kind of situations they behave aggressive or slow down? and why? poker is about observing your opponent and behave accordingly. so you need to put effort in analyzing your opponents at the very beginning rather focusing on your play and hands
 
Doubledunk

Doubledunk

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 15, 2016
Total posts
731
Awards
1
Chips
97
Not sure if this helps but this is what i do in a Week .
Play online about 18 hours
Review my hands 7~10 hours
Read forums and articles 8~12 hours
Analyze my leaks 1~3 hours(this used to take longer before i got LeakBuster)
Play live poker 6~8 hours (usually sat or sundays)
 
R

Running Nose II

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 28, 2014
Total posts
572
Chips
0
Read books on poker, get free lessons and practice, practice, practice
 
G

Guiguero

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Total posts
28
Chips
0
I think the best is read books. "The Theory of Poker" is the best book to read, I learned a lot.

But i think when you read some books you have to play poker too many years if you want to learn the best of poker: the experience is the most important atribute

Watching the proffesionals will help you, but be careful. Because the tournaments in the TV only shows selected hands for your entertainment. And in similar situations with this hands you do not have to do the same if you are playing with other stacks.
 
antonis32123

antonis32123

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Total posts
6,362
Awards
20
GR
Chips
249
It's difficult to put everything in a proggramme/scheddule . I hear some saying '' I'll play x hours and y hours I'm gonna study poker '' , but do they really do this actually ? I doubt ... I am one like you trying to find some time to maximise the best of studying and playing , haven't made it yet , I think we have to study a book cause it's better than the videos or the podcasts but the hand analysis posts aren't bad either IMO .
 
coolDadJimbo

coolDadJimbo

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 3, 2014
Total posts
141
Awards
1
Chips
1
...i'm still a relatively new to poker, but it seems that often people are looking for some sure fire recipe for success....

to be good at anything it takes practice.... there is a theory that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to be pro at anything... this gives you an idea of how important experience is... practice practice practice.... study as much as possibke

plus, you have to love it... and be realistic

i pretty much study at work during breaks... ;)
and play at ohme... in the 2.5 years i've been playing i've read 5 books, an online book and peruse a few blogs and youtube channels... and i feel like i've just scratched the surface of the theory...there is so much out there

(also, picking up harringtons 2 cash books tonight both for $20 used!! ...check out the used websites for some good finds)
 
CriesuaID

CriesuaID

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Oct 1, 2016
Total posts
931
Awards
2
Chips
9
Play and then analyze your wins and failures is the best option.
 
Top