How to start studying?

Hi qDe,

How you should start could depend a bit on your skill level. If you are just starting out or need to recap the basics, maybe you could start watching some beginner series from the video section.
If you already know some things and you have some guesses what could be the areas where you must improve, then you should make a list of those and try to improve those one by one. You can search for specific videos, review hands regarding that situation from your database and so on.
You could also get some poker books and read them. If you think your mental game could be better, you can read Jared Tendler's The Mental Game of Poker 1&2. If you want to improve your theoretical knowledge you could read books from Matthew Janda.
Some guys work with GTO solvers but that is a bit more advanced stuff.

I would definitely recommend to post and review hands on our hand discussion forums too

I started by posting hands here on the forum. It looks like a basic thing, but it will help you understand the concepts.
The are experienced players around here that can help you out!
One thing I like to do is watch others playing.
You can read a lot of things, work with a lot of GTO stuff and bla bla bla, but you will only get the concepts automatic when you play the game. And the most important: have fun doing it.

Working outside the tables is important. But the how depends on your skill level and also a little about your own style.
Solvers are the real deal but it's for people that already know a lot and know how to work well by themselves.
The best to begin with is to do session reviews with other players. It's like a free coaching and it can give you ideas about what to work on and how. Railing each other also. Or making a video about your session so that others comments don't disturb you in game.
Using Equilab (free) or Flopzilla (better but not free) is a must. Take spots where you didn't feel comfortable and think about players ranges and all. You need to know what to do with your whole range and why.

Originally posted by qDe
Players write a lot about studying, going to the lab etc.
Can you give some some examples how such a study session should look like?
I would love to improve and learn but don't know where to start!

Wishing all best during the holidays season!

You should tell us what games and limits you play. You could also post some stats and your ranges.

I suggest knowing what you want to learn. Start from the bottom, a couple concepts at a time. Study them, then start apllying them on the tables, as slow as you need to.

Diving into the ocean of information, reading it all and then not really learning anything didnt really work for me. Doesnt apply only to poker, i was a mess in school aswell.

Hope it helps

Having a friend that also plays helped me alot! we kept pushing each other.

Read the strategy thingie from the biginning and do the exercises. Also, try to aply it on the tables (even if u do so on a few playmoney games); share your toughts; read and share a few hands.

Btw, when i started i loved when i found out about pot odds. With it i didnt depend anymore on gut feelings to take decisions.

To start studying poker at this moment require a little of patience

- you have to learn exactly the poker systerm ( concepts , tools , approaching )
- you have to get a lot experience in short time ( if you are not a skilled player like Tom Dwan & company start with sng mtt or sng 6 max
- study starting hand , position, stats of tracker , ( holdem manager or other )
- odds are the first step
- ask to someone to give you a guide to begin your course
- begin with equilab ( proibite with pokerstars opened )
- make registration to some pokeroom with pokerstrategy,
-draw your hand memorize the frequency of hand

Most of common concept, equity, pot odd, range hand, style player loose aggressive,etc. tight , fish, maniac

Create your own excell paper and make exercise every day ! like your note .

And on strategy the silver videos

I would recommend reading "How to study poker vol 1." By Sky. Very informative book regarding this topic!

How To Study Poker: Volume 1: Techniques - thanks for tips.

Techniques For Making You A Better Player Today Than You Were Yesterday--- nice tips.

Try to organize the content you think you need, for example if you know you gotta work on your preflop play, try to organize videos and articles about that and don't try to study preflop and post flop together, for example put together some videos about EP ranges and work on that first and continue from that.
IMO equilab can be useful but not a great start because it's better when you have specific spots to study. As it was said here it's good when you had a hand that left you with some questions and after the session you recreate it to evaluate ranges, etc.
A better start to know your leaks is use your HUD to detect them, take a significant sample of your hands and search on the internet to learn how to use filters and reports to know how you are playing in each position and situation. You'll find if you are defending too wide or not on BB or flatting too much, etc. there's millions of things to work on from there you can from simple things like I said to studying specific spots post flop.

You are very good tips Draww - studying specific spots post flop, watch and read videos and articles, its the best. good luck

learn how to use advantage and you can a note some situation playing in each position and situation.

When I was first starting out
I first went with a beginner's guide. It wasn't the PS one yet, now you have The beginner's guide from KTU and Paxis that Confidant's updated, lucky you

Then I just read all the articles in the strategy section I had access to
https://www.pokerstrategy.com/strategy/

Then I started marking and posting hands on the forums

And only then I started with videos
just play a video with a notepad, pause or re-watch and write down key points.

Nowadays a study session for me is mostly
Set time e.g. 1hr block
1) have a bunch of marked hands ready
- from the day
- from snowie blunders
- that people sent me
- Look at them 1by1, send them to my coach, use Snowie, skype groups Equilab and solver in that order to go through them if solution's unclear

OR 2) Go by topic e.g. calling 3bets, mental game, specific database filter etc.
- Find hands in my databases in those spots
- Find any resource that's out there (videos, books, articles, people's posts, my own past notes) look at them, note them down, combine them
- Again use Mostly solver and a coach
- Note down what I learned

I use the same process for preparing live coachings, so if you are working on a topic feel free to steal the ideas I already researched. E.g. for the last special on Variance it took about 6-8 hrs

On top of that I just have a bunch of poker audiobooks and Google podcasts loaded
And listen on the go, just feed good poker stuff into your brain even when you don't focus.

No Lie last night I had a few drinks at a valentine's day party.
And around midnight when I was on my way home I slapped Mental Game of Poker in and was listening to Jared Tendler whisper in my ear about the learning model.
But hey that's what Valentine's day should be all about - spending time with what you love

I in particular do not like to discuss hands, but is very nice when you are beginner.

I recommend study:

1 - Style quadrant (Loose Agressive, Loose Passive, Tight Agressive, Tight Passive).
2 - Learn how to identify these styles and how beat all.
3 - For MTT's know when you need change your style because others players, because your stake, because bubble's, because everthing merged. And when you get out of fight for a moment.
4 - Learn about ICM.
5 - Learn about POT ODDS and related.
6 - Learn about Bubbles (MTT).
7 - Pratices reviews of hand history of MTT's with friends.
8 - Pratice how to won being the Crazy guy of table (Sit-Go) and how others players switch their styles because of you.
9 - Continuation bet's, 3-bet's for value and light. 3 barrel. And related.
10 - Positions and Range for open raise, float, 3-bet's and related.
11 - Do a solid management of bankroll (For me is the most important thing)

I'm not professional, but like so much poker.

Regards.

Many things you will only learn practicing poker.

I think theory without practice and the contrary is also bad.

But keep in mind Bankroll management is the most important thing I think.

Keep your strategy and you will profit at long term.

For additional go out of the box when have a regular opponent, keep in mind he knows the same of you

Learn about Field Betten to. Is very important thing.

I agry. The theory is good but practice is more important. Fault and mistake are the best teacher. So good luck and play more.

we use two cards