Propane Goat
Grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't
Moderator
This was from a wsop FT live stream discussion: You can't win pots when you fold. Another nugget was: if you're not sure what to do in a hand, aggression often is the best option.
I'm not advocating going out there and getting all reckless trying to run over the table, it takes experience and study to know when to apply pressure and when not to. If you're going to make the choice of whether to be aggressive or be passive though, being aggressive is the much better option in general.
TAG-style poker is the best place to start, but if you're moving up to where you're playing against good players who are watching what you are doing (especially over the course of multiple sessions) you have to vary what you are doing. Otherwise, you will start to notice that your opponents always seem to fold when you have the nuts, and drop the hammer on you when you don't.
I'm not advocating going out there and getting all reckless trying to run over the table, it takes experience and study to know when to apply pressure and when not to. If you're going to make the choice of whether to be aggressive or be passive though, being aggressive is the much better option in general.
TAG-style poker is the best place to start, but if you're moving up to where you're playing against good players who are watching what you are doing (especially over the course of multiple sessions) you have to vary what you are doing. Otherwise, you will start to notice that your opponents always seem to fold when you have the nuts, and drop the hammer on you when you don't.
B
BullWink
Rock Star
Silver Level
It used to really bother me when someone would call me on the flop or turn, when I had the best hand BY FAR, and then he would suck out on the river by hitting his 2 outer, or getting runner, runner.
Someone pointed out that this person will loose eventually if he plays that way, and that I just have to have patience and the money will come back to me.
This lesson made it much less likely that I would be upset when the guy sucks out, and gave me the patience to continue making sound decisions.
Someone pointed out that this person will loose eventually if he plays that way, and that I just have to have patience and the money will come back to me.
This lesson made it much less likely that I would be upset when the guy sucks out, and gave me the patience to continue making sound decisions.
NoWuckingFurries
Legend
Silver Level
Don't leave large sums of money with a poker site.
RazorG
Rising Star
Bronze Level
Care to elaborate?
BearPlay
Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Slow down a moment before acting. Take a breath and think about what you're doing and why you're doing it.
If I'm betting, am I betting for value or for bluffing? Or for pot control? Do I want my opponent to fold or to call?
If I'm folding, why am I folding?
If I'm checking, why am I checking instead of betting? Or instead of folding ? Am I hoping to check raise? Is my opponent LAGgy enough to bet out when I check in front?
If I'm calling, why am I calling and not betting? Am I open limping?
If I bet OTF, then what will I do OTT?
It really doesn't take but half a second to pause and think about what you're doing and why you're doing it, before acting. It made a huge improvement in my play when I stopped my snap decisions.
If I'm betting, am I betting for value or for bluffing? Or for pot control? Do I want my opponent to fold or to call?
If I'm folding, why am I folding?
If I'm checking, why am I checking instead of betting? Or instead of folding ? Am I hoping to check raise? Is my opponent LAGgy enough to bet out when I check in front?
If I'm calling, why am I calling and not betting? Am I open limping?
If I bet OTF, then what will I do OTT?
It really doesn't take but half a second to pause and think about what you're doing and why you're doing it, before acting. It made a huge improvement in my play when I stopped my snap decisions.
NoWuckingFurries
Legend
Silver Level
It took quite a while for me to retrieve my funds from Full Tilt. That's the most obvious answer, but there are others which I don't particularly want to elaborate on, they're in the past and it's probably best not to dwell too much on the past
Sil3ntness
Legend
Silver Level
Slow down a moment before acting. Take a breath and think about what you're doing and why you're doing it.
If I'm betting, am I betting for value or for bluffing? Or for pot control? Do I want my opponent to fold or to call?
If I'm folding, why am I folding?
If I'm checking, why am I checking instead of betting? Or instead of folding ? Am I hoping to check raise? Is my opponent LAGgy enough to bet out when I check in front?
If I'm calling, why am I calling and not betting? Am I open limping?
If I bet OTF, then what will I do OTT?
It really doesn't take but half a second to pause and think about what you're doing and why you're doing it, before acting. It made a huge improvement in my play when I stopped my snap decisions.
Yeah sometimes I make really dumb mistakes like that (snap decisions). Like I would be joking & laughing at the poker table with others during my MTT hand I'm involved in so I make a dumb bet for no reason because I'm more focused on the dialogue going on in chat. I have a history of spewing chips randomly
rifflemao
Pugs Not Drugs
Silver Level
PapaC
Legend
Silver Level
I think another good thing I have learned is that a raise with a good PP is better than an all in. The way I see it is that after the flop I have more control over my hand, where as an all in before the flop makes every thing out of my control.I used to do all in's a lot and it cost me a lot. These days I do less all in's unless I'm forced to do so.
K
Karametric
Rock Star
Silver Level
I'm still rather green, still pretty much a fish, so take what i say with a grain of salt. Still got a LOT to learn.
But my biggest "aha" moment was when i started understanding range, realizing that just because scary cards come down its still very unlikely their hand plays into it if they haven't acted consistently to that end previously in the hand
But my biggest "aha" moment was when i started understanding range, realizing that just because scary cards come down its still very unlikely their hand plays into it if they haven't acted consistently to that end previously in the hand
NoWuckingFurries
Legend
Silver Level
That's something that I've noticed a lot when moving from $1 SNGs on Full Tilt to $2.25 SNGs, the way that people play 88/99/TT.
Botanicaldreams
Rising Star
Bronze Level
Every Hand Revealed by Gus Hansen is a book I have been reading lately, its a great read and a good look at the inside mental dialogue that goes on during the tournament. If you are a conservative player his style will definitely make you think twice
M
Mr Buster
Rising Star
Bronze Level
Sooo TRUE!!!!
L
LornaMurray
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I think forum discussion is a best way to increase your poker playing ability, apart from that you can read new poker strategies on social networking sites and article's also. I love discussions on the forums because you can get help and suggestions from live players.
SloPowers
Rock Star
Silver Level
When I starting playing NLH some 10 years ago, the first thing my mentor told me was that I was in too many hands! I thought I needed to see most flops to know whether to continue or not! The minute I started folding more often is when my game started to improve. Then I learned about starting hands and position.
This is the most basic of stuff but if you are new to poker and want to amp up your game this is absolutely where you have to start!
This is the most basic of stuff but if you are new to poker and want to amp up your game this is absolutely where you have to start!