General Poker Discussion Poker Forums

I was talking with a friend yesterday about how we both got started in poker and how we both approached the learning process in our efforts to improve. I thought it would be helpful if we could get some experienced players/coaches to chime in on the things that helped most during the learning process. I'm not looking for specific on the table strategy advice here. I'm looking for study methods, most important concepts to internalize, etc. What did you focus on starting out that may actually have slowed down your learning process when you look back?

If you could hop in a time machine right now and go back to the time when you first decided that you wanted to make an effort to actually learn to beat poker...what approach(s) would you advise yourself to take?

I'd tell the old me to study the math of the game more, I really neglected this aspect of playing when I was predominantly playing live for a couple of years.

I'd take all my student loans, go back to 2004, deposit on party poker and play 5knl.

I'd read Kill Everyone for tournament poker and Easy Game for cash poker (HE obv).

Sign up for coaching sites straight away, and try to learn the pure concepts and context of moves rather than the move. Learn icm and play plenty of STTs early.

if i had a time machine i would do waaaay more cooler stuf then play poker

I'd develop a poker network - people you can exchange sweats/HHs with on skype - ASAP. If you have 4 other people who are playing the same games as you and as interested in learning as you are, that's a great recipe for success. That and not being afraid of math.

learn to play poker much much earlier.

learn to play poker much much earlier.

+1

I'd have become an executive on Wall Street. I definitely could have blown up the economy before 2008, I just didn't know they paid people 8 figuers to do that.

Pokerwise, I would have definitely tried to challenge my preconceptions as to what the "right plays" were and better understand why I thought they were the right plays and better assess whether my thinking was actually valid or not. In some respects, I feel that doing that more than most other players was a key to my success, but looking back, I realize I should have been willing to go much farther challenging the "standard" winning plays and improved my ability to adapt to exploitable leaks in my opponents.

I'd have become an executive on Wall Street. I definitely could have blown up the economy before 2008, I just didn't know they paid people 8 figuers to do that.

Pokerwise, I would have definitely tried to challenge my preconceptions as to what the "right plays" were and better understand why I thought they were the right players and better assess whether my thinking was actually valid or not. In some respects, I feel that doing that more than most other players was a key to my success, but looking back, I realize I should have been willing to go much farther challenging the "standard" winning plays and improved my ability to adapt to exploitable leaks in my opponents.

+1
inside job is a great flim

I made decent money beating poker for 4bb/100 one summer. 100k sample size isn't very large.
I think bum hunting is the most profitable but I enjoy playing any poker and owning them. The ego has got to go. If you are playing to make the most money, crush the fish.

Wow, I could potentially write about this all day ^^

I definitely echo what others have said in regards to the importance of having a network of good players to review hands with.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to just simply play more. Of course, you shouldn't play if it makes you feel depressed or you tilt too hard, but I typically learned the most from putting in volume. I made it a point for a couple of years to watch every video and read every book that was available to me, but in the end, although this was extremely helpful, I think I could've benefited more from getting my hands dirty and playing more.

Ultimately, the reason I went through so much content was because I genuinely enjoyed reading poker theory and discussing HH's, but if we're talking from a purely profit standpoint, my time would've definitely been better spent putting in volume.

I would also advise myself to trust my instincts at the tables more. It's incredible how often your first instinct is the correct on, and how your conscious mind can deceive your subconscious mind into taking an incorrect action.

I'd have sought out a training site and invested in membership much sooner (obviously second time round it would still be DeucesCracked ) Been much stricter in developing a study plan and sticking to monthly volume targets. I'd have looked at solving my tilt issues much more as you can undo hours of great play with one rage session.

NOT thinking 'oh this is easy - I'll definitely be able to make a good living from this within a couple of years' as soon as I go on a 10 BI heater at 50NL.

NOT becoming blind to all the other good activities life has to offer and getting sucked into an obsessive grind. Definite mistake I made at times whilst going through university - super important to get the work/social/poker balance right imo, with definite priority given to the first two. GL!

The biggest thing I'd do is set a routine that I would follow for each session. I'd also begin practicing and studying meditation earlier (I'm just starting to get into it now, in the most basic way).

Routine would include exercise before and after each session (probably a run before, a walk afterward), good nutrition throughout the day, and a strict cap on the length of sessions. I was very studious while I was playing lots of poker, but unfortunately wasn't nearly as disciplined as I could have been.

Rob