[Closed] How to improve your game - objectivity

Really nice post Puschkin81!

And so true about the learning process... I've had the ratio of 3:1-5:1 between playing and learning (playing more than learning) and I'm slowly starting to see how many mistakes are hidden in the process of getting lucky. I'm slowly trying to get to improving my game more than playing it, hopefully I'll succeed!

Also, one thing that I've noticed is that in fixed limit players don't realize that they are making so many mistakes usually. At least I didn't (still don't do probably). Playing SSS NL has been an expensive, but a good lesson, that every move counts. The main reason for this is that in NL if you make a mistake you lose BIG. Luckily not that big while playing SSS.

So, what I'm trying to say is that realizing that discovering & avoiding small mistakes is the hardest part for a poker newcommer. Even if you do acknowlage that you are making those mistakes, it takes quite much willpower to avoid them. I for one have found myself thinking "I know this is bad, but I'm feeling lucky this time." too many times.
And it's good that PokerStrategy only suggests people to post hands, discuss them, etc, instead of forcing them to do that. That way a player can choose the path that he/she shall take himself/herself, be it right or wrong. But atleast PokerStrategy has given that player a chance to choose!

Hi.
Surely using the many features of Pokertracker is also a good way of finding leaks and ways to improve. I worry that I am not really getting the most out of this software. Perhaps somebody could write a post explaining some of its more useful but less obvious features? this could be very helpful i think.

cheers.

Spelling mistake:
" every bluff gets catched "

Correct:

" every bluff gets caught "

great article

Hmm, I dont really get the learning - playing ratio. Ofc I get (at least if thats one point) that its better to play a bit fewer tables to really try to learn as much as you can than go robotic and multitabling like crazy and not have the time to think about anything. But the ratio thing, exactly how do you put it as that?

@snowylee

In other words (if I'm understanding it correctly,) spend at least half as much time learning as you spend playing. So if you play for 2 hours, make sure you spend 1 hour learning (reading articles, reading books, posting and discussing hands, etc.)

@Puschkin

Good post!

Kknight

Does giving coachings (where I play) and evaluating hands (I do that as well) counts as learning? *g* Because right now I play about 2.000 hands (without giving coaching) every day, thats around 4 hours.

And besides evaluating hands (1-2 hours a day) and coaching (7-10 hours a week) I do not learn so much besides that. ♦ Ok I really don´t have more time.

@topic
Oh yeah the fishes are getting lucky lately. But honestly I also learn to lay down a hand. E.g. I raise with QQ from CO and the BB calls. The board is A 6 T. The BB donks $3 in a $10 pot. In my early days I would have pushed as a SSS, now I can lay that down. Polite as my Opponent was he showed me T6. ♦

What I want to say. Even during you play you can learn and improve your skills, if you concentrate on playing at 2-3 tables and watch your opponents closely. Maybe do a game where you try to read the other players hands in a pot where you´re not involved. You will see how much fun that bring and how good your reading skills will become over the time.

Maybe do a game where you try to read the other players hands in a pot where you´re not involved. You will see how much fun that bring and how good your reading skills will become over the time.

Wow! Thanks Berliner1982, that's a really good idea.

i think that's the right idea. thanks!

Yeah about the last thing you said Berliner, thats what I had in mind too since I dont think its good to just read read read read so much without playing enough, at least I for one doesnt learn it all that good if I cant get enough time to try it out etc. And Ive learned more from playing, trying to think about my game and post sample hands. But posting sample hands doesnt really take THAT much time, and ofc I read all the sample hands which have helped me greatly too

It takes more time to evaluate hands. Sometimes I need up to 10 minutes for one evaluation (when it needs a long explaination and there is a lot to write). But I enjoy it, since I also learn something for myself when I think about these hands.

You do not address one important point: To me THE problem with poker is that you never know whether a decision was correct or not. I even read of people who criticise a turn play of stoxtrader as being too weak etc. Many moves can be ascribed to meta game considerations. Example?

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 9, 9.
4 folds, MP2 raises, Hero 3-bets, 4 folds, MP2 calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) Q, 2, 3 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets, MP2 raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.75 BB) A (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets, MP2 calls.

River: (7.75 BB) 4 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 7.75 BB

He shows KQ

I am 90% sure at the flop that I am beat. Nevertheless I have to stay in the hand and decide to 3bet planning to fold on a check raise and take a free show down. If I did not even 3bet with 2nd pair, the opponent could exploit my flop weakness in future HU situations and bluff check raise me out of the hand with any two.

You can always look at a hand the way you want to. This is what I really hate with the game.

Isnt that whats great? :). That even after quite some time you even then doesnt have everything set in stone