How much play, exactly, is the PROPER amount of play? Because I want to be sure that I'm playing the PROPER amount.
-HooDooKoo
I mean like everything else in poker the answer is an unsatisfying "it depends"....
Here are some factors though:
1) How many tables you are playing.
2) How deep you are playing...also SNG/MTT/CG play.
3) Are you finding yourself adjusting your play to others strategy used against you, or are you just playing a fixed "plan" of poker.
4) Results
5) What level of poker are you playing stakes-wise.
If you are asking me how long it would be before I would do a hand review session with someone I was tutoring, well, I would have the person play
at least 5k hands after a lesson and before reviewing spots. Maybe closer to 10k if they multitable.
Remember, proper EV can only really be determined with any statistical validity at around 100k hands. I mean you can have suggestive data that is valid for the purposed of X...but a real meaty statistical set would be like 100k hands.
You have to play a lot to get better.
The above numbers relate to 40-100BB normal cash games where someone was 2-4 tabling. So if you averaged 166 hands/hr for 3 hours a session (500 hands), that would be 10-20 sessions until looking back at the hands seriously.
This is in regards to beginning and early intermediate players. I think the vast majority of CC falls into those categories from looking at the level of the their posting and play in tournaments I have taken part in.