You guys are just too good...

Grebbsy

Grebbsy

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This isn't an attempt to start a fight or anything, but I'm starting to get dispirited.

I won't call it tilt because if anything it's the opposite -- tilt (as I understand it) is plunging back into further poker games when you're emotionally on edge from a bad beat or a piece of poor play that you know was poor and you should have avoided, whilst what I'm experiencing is more the feeling that I'm never going to be a poker player worth a damn and I ought to just get out and stop wasting money on the wretched game.

This is partly due to a long run of rotten results, but partly also due to the sheer level of the discussions going on here on CC. Many of them make me feel like someone with a first aid at work qualification who's wandered into a conference full of brain surgeons and is trying to keep up with the conversations and debates. The thought of trying to get to the point where I can even begin to engage in any kind of meaningful discussion on here, never mind the point where I can hope to make anything more but the odd few cents from pure chance at poker, seems more and more daunting.

Did any of you guys have to overcome a similar hurdle when you were new to poker, and if so how did you manage it?
 
M

Marginal

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The more you read, the more you participate, the more questions you ask, the easier it will be to understand and comprehend the discussions. Trust me, most of the discussion are not high level and you should be able to get into it if you continue to read and continue to ask questions etc.

All I have for you is to keep on learning, keep on playing, keep on growing and you will be fine.
 
WVHillbilly

WVHillbilly

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No one is born with an understanding of poker. We all learn the game. Just keep reading, posting hands, and asking questions. All the knowledge you need to get better is out there.
 
Grebbsy

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No one is born with an understanding of poker. We all learn the game. Just keep reading, posting hands, and asking questions. All the knowledge you need to get better is out there.

The trouble is trying to find the vital pieces of knowledge and sift them out from the crap. I appreciate fully that there's no easy way to do this quickly but I'm one of those people who really, really hates to appear ignorant or to ask stupid questions which betray how little I know about something. I need to get over this... somehow.

As the saying goes, "If you've been sitting at a poker table half an hour and haven't figured out who the fish is, it's you". What I need is the next step... what to do when you have figured out that you're the fish and want to shed those scales.
 
WVHillbilly

WVHillbilly

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No one here knows who you are. Who cares if you look stupid. It's the internet. The great bastion of stupid people!
 
S93

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The trouble is trying to find the vital pieces of knowledge and sift them out from the crap. I appreciate fully that there's no easy way to do this quickly but I'm one of those people who really, really hates to appear ignorant or to ask stupid questions which betray how little I know about something. I need to get over this... somehow.

As the saying goes, "If you've been sitting at a poker table half an hour and haven't figured out who the fish is, it's you". What I need is the next step... what to do when you have figured out that you're the fish and want to shed those scales.
Pride has no place in poker(or if we want to go all philosophic, in life).
Ignorance is only a sin if you do nothing about it :D. So when ever you see something you dont understand around the forum just ask for clarification.
It will help you and it might just help the person doing the explaining as well.

As for finding the "gold" among the dross, thats the reason for the golden archives and stickies. Take a while to read through those threads and im 100% sure u will have a better understanding of some of the concepts you are having trouble with.
 
Grebbsy

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Okay, here's one. What do "x/c" and "x/f" signify? My initial guess was check-raise and check-fold but that didn't seem to make sense in the context...
 
WVHillbilly

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check/call and check/fold. check/raise would be x/r
 
IntenseHeat

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Not playing with you. Not being funny. Seriously dude, Texas Hold'em for dummies.
Holdem for Dummies

My buddy won a big settlement a few years back. He I think he planned to be a great poker player, because he bought several books on the subject. I'm pretty sure I was the first person to crack most of them. This was back before all the T.V. shows. Coverage of the wsop was just the final table and if you were an insomniac, flipping through the channels, you might catch it on at some ungodly hour of the morning. I had no idea who most of these authors were. But I was familiar with the "for Dummies" books. So while my buddies all played Play Station, that was the book I grabbed off of the shelf and thumbed through. When I started my own poker library, it was the first book I went out and bought. Not saying it's all you'll ever need to know. It's a good place to start though, very easy to understand, concise, and to the point.
 
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wagon596

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I play because I love the game and for the competition. I think I know somewhat my limited skill of the game. I play stakes that I'm comfortable at, so if I lose, it won't have me on the phone to the Crisis Hotline.

I do know that playing against the players here at CC in the freerolls has improved my game. Don't give up, but also don't go broke.

I think it was Doyle who said, "Takes a day to learn the game, but a lifetime to master".
 
steveiam

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This isn't an attempt to start a fight or anything, but I'm starting to get dispirited.

I won't call it tilt because if anything it's the opposite -- tilt (as I understand it) is plunging back into further poker games when you're emotionally on edge from a bad beat or a piece of poor play that you know was poor and you should have avoided, whilst what I'm experiencing is more the feeling that I'm never going to be a poker player worth a damn and I ought to just get out and stop wasting money on the wretched game.

This is partly due to a long run of rotten results, but partly also due to the sheer level of the discussions going on here on CC. Many of them make me feel like someone with a first aid at work qualification who's wandered into a conference full of brain surgeons and is trying to keep up with the conversations and debates. The thought of trying to get to the point where I can even begin to engage in any kind of meaningful discussion on here, never mind the point where I can hope to make anything more but the odd few cents from pure chance at poker, seems more and more daunting.

Did any of you guys have to overcome a similar hurdle when you were new to poker, and if so how did you manage it?

How long have you been playing ?
What type of games are you playing ? Cash,Tourney,
What level are you playing at ?
 
OnDHeater

OnDHeater

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Losing is often what it takes to learn how to win.
 
olliejjc16

olliejjc16

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its difficult to get your head around at first, there's so much information to take in it can definitely be overwhelming, i've found that concentrating on one aspect of your game at a time makes it easier, try not to overload yourself with information! Poker is a game where there's always something new to learn, to improve you have to make a long-term investment in the game, anyone who is decent has spent years at it!
 
atlantafalcons0

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Everyone continues to learn this game. No one has all the answers.

Stay humble and hungry.

:)
 
R

RoTs

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Someone once said the only stupid question is the question not asked. Seems to me your on the right path attempting to learn and improve. Keep asking and keep learning.
 
aa88wildbill

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There's an old saying, (a smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from someone else's mistakes!) Maybe you need to step back, and do a little reading. Read some, play some, read some, play some. Then come back and have a meaningful conversation.
 
NineLions

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Okay, here's one. What do "x/c" and "x/f" signify? My initial guess was check-raise and check-fold but that didn't seem to make sense in the context...

check/call and check/fold. check/raise would be x/r

There are hundreds of shorthands like this, esp on the internets, so don't feel afraid to ask when and where you see them, unless you have really thin skin or are afraid of looking like a beginner, in which case you're gonna have to read 2-4 times as much as anyone else 'cause you don't ask questions.

The only time people are gonna get snippy is if they're trolls or if you don't read and ask something that's already been made clear, or if you get snippy first or they already know each other. And if you're not sure who to believe, check the number of posts and join date of the person. Marg, WV and S93 are all long time and respected (in varying degrees :) ) members and you can rely on their experience as likely-to-be-reasonable advice.
 
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I find the more I play the better I get. Remember, there is no one set way to play poker. Change it up some. I started out as a TAG (tight-aggressive) player but now I am known as someone who will play any two cards. My easiest advice....don't defend your blinds, instead defend the button. I find position is HUGE. Again, don't get dicouraged, the real difference between good and bad players is good players get their money in good and don't sweat the results.Good luck!
 
S

smidjet

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i am new to poker and can feel you, but i win and mostly live. had a good teacher but what he taught me that was most important was that poker is a simple game.the problem is we tend to complicate it.keep it simple.have the courage to fold and the courage to raise and respect the board.keep it simple for now . one more thing would be to play limit games stud, omaha,holdem until you start winning
 
Poker Orifice

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what I'm experiencing is more the feeling that I'm never going to be a poker player worth a damn
Did any of you guys have to overcome a similar hurdle when you were new to poker, and if so how did you manage it?
This can be looked at in a positive light. Most (many) players think they are far better than they are (especially newer'ish' ones, but also many who've been playing for years). You sound open to learning which is a plus.

gl & hang in there. It's a process.
 
atlantafalcons0

atlantafalcons0

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This can be looked at in a positive light. Most (many) players think they are far better than they are (especially newer'ish' ones, but also many who've been playing for years). You sound open to learning which is a plus.

gl & hang in there. It's a process.
IMO, everyone should think they can be better. If not, you have a problem.
 
woohoo sue

woohoo sue

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**** happens........ never more prevalent than in poker.....do not hate the player hate the play.. this applies to you as well as the villan. Hang in there.
Most of that confidence you feel from other players is part of their game....this will come too.
You are in the learning stage .. not the time to place your play as a reason to play the game or not.
 
LD1977

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Grebbsy:

1) You have to put in the work to improve. It is not gonna happen spontaneously.
* When you don't understand words best is to just put "poker glossary" into Google or just search for expressions you don't know - it is quick and you always get a correct answer.

2) Hand history forum is where it is at ;) Do not accept answers like "bet, bet, push" or "raise preflop, bet/fold turn" - ALWAYS ask for explanations.*

* This is a real easy way to sift through the crap - just ignore all answers that are not elaborated, they are useless unless you understand the logic.

3) Put in your signature "I am a total beginner" and you just solved all issues about looking stupid :D I am not kidding, everybody was a beginner once upon a time (I still am BTW, but have improved A LOT in just 4 months or so of playing).

4) Play as much as you can, but ONE table only and observe the opponents. Analyze your own play and post on the HH forum those hands that you can't figure out on your own. Don't be afraid to be the devil's advocate or sorts and present an opposite opinion to what the majority says - learning is an interactive process, as I said under 1) you have to WORK to learn.

5) After you get your answers in HH forum, USE the new knowledge in your game and see how it works. If it doesn't, come back to HH forum etc.

P.S. I think people here are generally great. Seriously. Everybody can have a bad day and be a bit snappy but overall they are polite and I am very happy to be here.
P.P.S. I know CAPS = shouting but I wanted to emphasize some things. Sorry guys.
 
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M

Mr SourKraut

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I really like the above post, and I agree with it. No people starts out great, but if we want to learn and become the better poker player then that is a strong attitude.
 
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