Michael Paler
Legend
Silver Level
Things I have learned the hard way, 101.
Free rolls are the best place to learn! Why is simple; Play enough, you will see every mistake that can possibly be made in poker.
Bet too big and get pot committed with no hand (high card only)? Check.
Shove with one pair into an obvious two pair? Check.
Shove with two pair into an obvious set? Check.
Call a shove with a 3 outer gut shot into a made straight and miss? Check.
Call a shove with a 3 outer gut shot, make it and still lose to a bigger straight? Check.
Call bets with a made straight right into a possible flush? Check.
Call bets with a flush right into a possible full house? Check.
Call big 3 and 4 bets with 3 or 4 people in a pot, with the 3rd or 4th best hand? Check.
Get constant calls with his probable 2 pair on a board with 2 of a suit, then on the river the 3rd suit hits, guy shoves and he still calls with only that 2 pair? Check.
What do I mean by “obvious”? Well, if you raise big preflop and your flop bet gets called, you really have to look at the flop and wonder “why did this guy call”?. If it’s an AK2 flop, you got AK, bet big on that 2 pair flop and get called, what could he have? Well, maybe better than two pair! Sure, could be a float bet to bluff you off later, but if so he’s clearly a horrible bluffer, especially if he limped in preflop and then called your raise. If he had AA, wouldn’t he 3 bet preflop? I sure as hell would. So, is he a weak player or a solid one? See, you got to pay attention. Maybe he is weak and has A-x and you're about to make a lot of checks come your way. Maybe he is solid and does have 22 and now is trapping you. Of course, it could be a member of the equine family...not a Horse...What do you call those?
Put the IPOD down, and pay attention. You will learn more than you could even if taught by a “pro” and a lot quicker! My best advice? Try getting into a game and only making one move - all in with any big pair. Spend the rest of the time just watching others and try to read hands and predict outcomes. In other words, have no intention of actually winning. Just watch.
If it is merge and you don’t see all the hands at the showdown, remember that the hand history will show you what they all had at the showdown (not just merge, but most sites have this in one way or another). This makes it way better than NOT entering and watching a game. You might spend hours and only actually see a few hands. Or, enter the game and walk away, then when it’s over review the hand history. This can teach you a lot about betting tells. I promise you will find at least one person who clearly bets more with big hands and less with small hands, or vice versa. Soon, you can confidently pick off someone who is c-betting with air and actually bluff them off a pot. That’s almost unheard of in these types of games!
It’s not easy, but how often have you lost and had a donkey tell you “well, it’s free”? I agree, but instead of making donkey calls, I prefer to watch and learn. So, good Luck!
Free rolls are the best place to learn! Why is simple; Play enough, you will see every mistake that can possibly be made in poker.
Bet too big and get pot committed with no hand (high card only)? Check.
Shove with one pair into an obvious two pair? Check.
Shove with two pair into an obvious set? Check.
Call a shove with a 3 outer gut shot into a made straight and miss? Check.
Call a shove with a 3 outer gut shot, make it and still lose to a bigger straight? Check.
Call bets with a made straight right into a possible flush? Check.
Call bets with a flush right into a possible full house? Check.
Call big 3 and 4 bets with 3 or 4 people in a pot, with the 3rd or 4th best hand? Check.
Get constant calls with his probable 2 pair on a board with 2 of a suit, then on the river the 3rd suit hits, guy shoves and he still calls with only that 2 pair? Check.
What do I mean by “obvious”? Well, if you raise big preflop and your flop bet gets called, you really have to look at the flop and wonder “why did this guy call”?. If it’s an AK2 flop, you got AK, bet big on that 2 pair flop and get called, what could he have? Well, maybe better than two pair! Sure, could be a float bet to bluff you off later, but if so he’s clearly a horrible bluffer, especially if he limped in preflop and then called your raise. If he had AA, wouldn’t he 3 bet preflop? I sure as hell would. So, is he a weak player or a solid one? See, you got to pay attention. Maybe he is weak and has A-x and you're about to make a lot of checks come your way. Maybe he is solid and does have 22 and now is trapping you. Of course, it could be a member of the equine family...not a Horse...What do you call those?
Put the IPOD down, and pay attention. You will learn more than you could even if taught by a “pro” and a lot quicker! My best advice? Try getting into a game and only making one move - all in with any big pair. Spend the rest of the time just watching others and try to read hands and predict outcomes. In other words, have no intention of actually winning. Just watch.
If it is merge and you don’t see all the hands at the showdown, remember that the hand history will show you what they all had at the showdown (not just merge, but most sites have this in one way or another). This makes it way better than NOT entering and watching a game. You might spend hours and only actually see a few hands. Or, enter the game and walk away, then when it’s over review the hand history. This can teach you a lot about betting tells. I promise you will find at least one person who clearly bets more with big hands and less with small hands, or vice versa. Soon, you can confidently pick off someone who is c-betting with air and actually bluff them off a pot. That’s almost unheard of in these types of games!
It’s not easy, but how often have you lost and had a donkey tell you “well, it’s free”? I agree, but instead of making donkey calls, I prefer to watch and learn. So, good Luck!