Is it worth memorizing the card group rankings?

A

angrybanana

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Hey guys, I am new here. I've been playing poker with my friends for several years now but after a recent trip to atlantic city I got inspired to become great at the game. I had Hold'Em Poker for Advanced Players by Sklansky laying around the house so I attempted to get through the book. He describes the card rankings and presents tables for easier presentation. But, should I memorize the groups and the cards within them from the start or should I just keep reading about and playing poker until eventually i'll be able to tell the value of a hand?
Thanks!
 
BenjiHustle

BenjiHustle

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Both. It's never bad to retain information. You can decide in time whether or not the information has a use within your game, but there's always going to be a spot for info. Sklansky is apparently the ultimate genius in the game, though I have no personal experience with him or his books, he comes highly recommended and regarded.

Anytime you're learning, it's not going to be bad to remember it. That's simple logic. There will come a time when you're in the middle of a session and you utilize a piece of information the one and only time you've needed it, but it helps. It's called a "Eureka!" moment.
 
tothbopo

tothbopo

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Being new to poker like me it is very valuable to memorize some basic stuff.

In time you will take basic stuff into your own game without even thinking about it.

I believe in theory when I play at my level.
 
AlfieAA

AlfieAA

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You've been playing for years and you don't know the value of hand rankings?....pretty much a must to learn them, otherwise what's the point in playing?
 
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hffjd2000

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For basic stuffs, you have to know them but not necessarily memorize them by heart.

There are also other factors to consider like postflop plays, strategies, etc.

Even regulars already forget those card rankings and its groups.
 
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rhombus

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If you play online just stcik them to the side of your monitor and glance at them from time to time. Eventually you wil lknow without looking :)
 
punctual

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I'll be honest with you. I was all for memorizing preflop starting hands by position when I first started playing poker around 9 months ago. And I don't think that doing this has hurt me in any way.

But I think over time experience will let you just instinctively know which hands tend to perform well for you from each position. I mean when you constantly get screwed by raising from UTG with KJ, you eventually will be programmed to stop doing that...lol....
 
BenjiHustle

BenjiHustle

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But I think over time experience will let you just instinctively know which hands tend to perform well for you from each position. I mean when you constantly get screwed by raising from UTG with KJ, you eventually will be programmed to stop doing that...lol....

I disagree with this. You've obviously never seen these fish who repeatedly push with middle and bottom pairs and backdoor draws. :p
 
Arjonius

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If it's not difficult for you to memorize tables, then why not? Even if you're not good at memorizing, for online, you can just keep a copy at your PC.
 
LizRang

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I don't think it's important to memorize it exactly. However, I do think it is really helpful if you make your own determination and memorize what/how You are going to typically play from different positions based upon how much you have in your chip stack .. and where the game is at ... and don't change your general play strategy unless you are doing it consciously.
 
XXPXXP

XXPXXP

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Does Casino allowed you to use some thing like pad/cellphone, during the play?
If yes, just store a picture in cellphone.

I don't think it is worth to remember rankings by hearts.
Because at least, I know paper notes are allowed, just write it down, and get a quick peek, if you are unsure about one hand.
 
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