MishkaZL
Legend
Platinum Level
In my opinion, you need to play poker based on your own skills and experience, and then you have a real chance to succeed. If you count on the knee, intestines, ear, or heel, I think in this case your chances are minimal.
Rob Hobson
Legend
Loyaler
Theory is very important for any player levels because it shows the fundamentals and the basis that you need to know to don't deviate too far from an imaginary line of perfect game conditions.
But it does not mean you always have to play 'by the book'.
But it does not mean you always have to play 'by the book'.
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zerosalex
Visionary
Bronze Level
I think you have to adapt to the table you sit at. So before you sit at a table you must have all the tools and be able to play different styles so that you can adapt to the players at the table. The more weapons and different styles you have the better player you will be over all, don't just stick to one way of playing and don't try to force anything.
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Auswa
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Poker tournaments come down to two things
1) Accumulate chips
2) Preserve chips.
My gut feelings are always based on theory. There might not be any concrete evidence he will fold but I might just try and Accumulate chips and take a stab in the dark.
Same with Preserving chips. Might not be any evidence he's got it but I just fold and wait for another situation. Basically its down to chance.
1) Accumulate chips
2) Preserve chips.
My gut feelings are always based on theory. There might not be any concrete evidence he will fold but I might just try and Accumulate chips and take a stab in the dark.
Same with Preserving chips. Might not be any evidence he's got it but I just fold and wait for another situation. Basically its down to chance.
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jeffman123
Rock Star
Bronze Level
I think you need to play Poker based on a very exact understanding of optimal strategy. The only way to get that is with a lot of work. online poker at even mid-stakes is a game with such incredibly tight margins that if you don't even have a coherent strategy you're going to be a complete fish.
IntenseHeat
Legend
Bronze Level
Of course it is important to have an understanding of poker strategy, the stronger the better. But having good poker instincts will also serve us well. Without them you will find yourself constantly folding to every time someone bluffs at a pot. It's easy to make the call when you make top pair/top kicker on a dry board, and you know that your opponent is trying the rep the hand you just made. But it's hard gets harder when you're looking at a coordinated board with straight or flush possibilities showing or over cards to your pair on the board. Unless, of course, you're happy to fold every time an over card or a card that might complete some sort of draw hits the board and someone bets at it, you have to rely on your instincts to either make the call or fold. It's our instincts that tell us whether we think someone got there and actually has it or, is simply bluffing to try to push us off of our hand.
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Zirkzee
Rock Star
Silver Level
A mixture of both is probably the best. I would definitely read up on the theories and then you can decide which ones to add to your repertoire. You always have a certain artistic freedom in poker. There is not only one successful way. Depending on the strengths of a player, this can also differ significantly. It is often argued that playing according to fixed tables becomes static and suboptimal Strategy leads. That's true, of course, but only if the charts are followed too strictly. However, if you use tables sensibly and flexibly, they can bring many advantages. Primarily they give you a starting point for your considerations. It's easier yourself in difficult situations to consider how and why you should deviate from your standard range instead of completely without it Clue to reinvent the wheel.
Luvepoker
Lost in the twilight zone
Community Guide
I play by theory for the most part but there is always the gut instinct part that can affect my action. It really depend on the person I am against and the amount of chips I have to use.
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fundiver199
Legend
Loyaler
That depends on, what you mean by "guts and feelings" and "strict theoretical rules". If "strict theoretical rules" means always trying to play perfect GTO poker, then my answer to that is no.
There is a concept known as MDF (Minimum Defense Frequenzy), which especially apply on the river. But if my poker instinct tell me, that someone is very unlikely to be bluffing or on the countrary very likely to be bluffing, then I will certainly deviate and call either less or more.
If on the other hand "guts and feelings" means a rationale like "I really like J4, so I will play that hand from any position" or "this guy has been very annoying, so I go all in", then thats not good winning poker.
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Vinao182
Enthusiast
Silver Level
man, i try to play with theory, but it hardly works kkk, amazing, i think that actually while we are playing our brain is realizing who is bluffing, who is too aggressive, i.e. collecting random information that makes a difference when playing a hand purely for equity, i see it makes a difference, whenever i think i think it was better not to go all in with ak now, i always lose kkk it's amazing!
cardplayer52
Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
I think understanding theory is super important. That doesn't mean you need to play GTO poker. You instead can use it when its best.
Take the game rock paper scissors. GTO would be to play each 1/3 of the time. The villian knowing your strategy could never impliment a strategy to beat you.
If however while playing GTO you notice villian always played rock(or favored rock) It would make sense to play paper(or play it more often).
You would be getting reads of the villians play and how it deviated from GTO and you would deviate accordingly to make the maximun profit.
Take the game rock paper scissors. GTO would be to play each 1/3 of the time. The villian knowing your strategy could never impliment a strategy to beat you.
If however while playing GTO you notice villian always played rock(or favored rock) It would make sense to play paper(or play it more often).
You would be getting reads of the villians play and how it deviated from GTO and you would deviate accordingly to make the maximun profit.