blonde poker forum

If you were to have someone standing by to give you advice while playing (as discussed by Rob Yong & Julian Thew IIRC) what advice would you want them to be passing on?

• If you've been given a savage bad beat
• If you've been card dead and are starting to play with garbage through boredom
• If you've hit a couple of hands and are getting too cocky
• As you near the bubble
• If you have a massive stack
• If you have a short stack
• If someone at the table is annoying you and trying to tilt you

Any other situations you'd like to have your poker guru passing on advice for?

Rod's list of faults No 1 ;)

definitely got to be when near the bubble for me... I have been actually keeping notes , and writing down my thoughts about this particular part of my game...Someday I might even share it, but not on a forum which is choc full of the people I play against week in week out

 8)

I know what you mean Laz - but I'm more thinking of general words of advice to calm you/accellerate you play in the various situations. Don't expect anyone to give away their secrets  :D

me personally.

a)..making moves when card dead...finding situations to exploit and players to pick on

b) around the bubble....need help in naturally upping the aggression quotient when foes are locking down for the final

A few of your situations involve a players emotions - the disgust of being on the receiving end of a bad beat or the elation of taking down a big, crucial pot towards the end of a tournament, the annoyance of someone at the table trying to put you on tilt........

You need to leave your emotions in another room before you sit down at the poker table to play a tournament - If you are in a highly emotional state at some point during a tournament then that is the most likely time that you will lower your guard and make a mistake which in a tournament could mean your untimely exit. Try to remain as emotionless as possible during the tournament and you will be less likely to make an error as you will be playing your "a-game" throughout.

I'm not saying that you play like a robot, you still have to enjoy it and have fun otherwise but learn to control the anger, elation and disappointments - take a look at Phil Ivey's expressions when he plays, you'll never be able to tell the difference from when he's just won a big pot to when he's just suffered a horrendous outdraw.

As for a list of things that i would want my poker guru's advice on, hmmmm tricky one. There have been times when i've realized that my game needs to evolve if i want to try and stay one step ahead of my opponents and there are a few things that i'm working on at the moment.

Nothing that i'd like to share with a public forum though ;)

This topic was invented for the new teamGB coach i think, over to you Kev...............

i would like to offer my on advice but as it is, I am not a well known player, or regarded as a good player and feel that any words I give would be disregarded anyway so I'll leave advice to more talented and experienced players

Any advice appreciated Stallyon.

For MTT players one thing i would recommend when it gets to the later stages of a tournament is NEVER LOOK AT THE PRIZE POOL OR THE PRIZES ON OFFER. You'll be surprised how many people make a final table then sit there glued to the prize structure thinking "ooo, 6th pays $150 more than 7th - i've got to make sure i'm not the next one out". This usually leads to players tightening up and not playing their usual "a-game".

Also don't be afraid to lose!! Everyone makes mistakes and yes sometimes in this game your going to make a move that doesnt work or a call that turns out to be wrong. Just dust yourself down and get ready to move onto the next tournament again ready to play your "a-game".

Dont listen to just one persons piece of advice - seek the advice of as many people as possible (at times chances are you'll even receive advice that contradicts other peoples advice) and take the best bits from everyone that you believe will best suit your game. What works for Jac Arama might not work for you if your a rock!!

is there anyway of knowing what your own play style is? you hear of guys say oh he's a rock or she's tight-aggressive, or he's passively loose but is there a set standard that people can look at and say oh i'm that or is this label usually given by others that have played against you?

Stallyon,

I would recommend having a look at the book called "The psychology of poker" by Dr Alan Schoonmaker. It helps you identify what type of player you are, what type of players your oppo's are, and also helps you define what your motivations are for playing the game.

a great book.

This has the makings of a great thread.

For me, I need someone to keep me in check when it comes to chips.  There comes a stage when I do something silly for no other reason than I get worried at the stacks other players at the table have and I start to think I need to double up otherwise I will be bullied everytime I make a raise.

There are some good players on here who I have been watching on sites especially RED DOG and Tikay And what amazes me is the patience and constraint they show when they are running fairly low on chips.  Especially Mr Dog he never seems to panic, and I find myself watching the screen sometimes hsouting stick them in - not knowing his cards because  thats what I end up doing.

For me I have 2 areas to work on

firstly...

finding myself either chipleader or up there in a mtt with many many people behind me (say a few hours to go),    how to use the stack to my advantage,how to stay away from trouble,how to keep a certain image without compromising my stack..

secondly....

taking advantage of the bubble and other's general tightness around it...


but after observing and watching very good players ( but not challenge tv ) I have a better feeling for what is going on and hopefully doing a little better these days

Jeez Ian, how many times do you have to be told? He's the

MANAGER

I'm sorry, i cant be giving away my secrets on here ... Those pesky Irish boys may have spies in the camp ;)

Fair play to you cap, trust nobody
Come on England!!

Is that a request?

i'm sure if we all pull together   :D

As always the Stallyon takes it one step further  ;applause; :)up

sorry guv...couldnt stop myself...it was left open

Poker coach? I don’t like the sound of this.

Will it end up like rugby where you have a forwards coach, a backs coach, a defensive coach etc. etc.

Will the day come when players will be taking a team of coaches to each tournament. Some of your team will be there to make notes on all of your opponents for you. A big stack coach., a short stack coach, motivational coach, early stage coach, late stage coach, final table coach….

Will you have to create new rules for coaches? Will you only be allowed to talk to your coach during breaks or will you be able to talk to them at any point? I can see many issues here.

and then it'll become electronic with all the stats computerised and presented to you on some sort of electronic device...doing all the thinking for you so all you have to do is push a button...

Do you think it's a good idea then?

It was something that Rob & a couple of others have mentioned...

I'm not looking to get a coach - but trying to compile some good advice - my hypnotherapist mate is intrigued at the idea of a: A hypnotherapy session to help achieve the correct attitude/state of mind
b: to produce follow up reminders for loading on the ipod for certain situations where I've found myself straying from the path of poker excellence.

I thought I'd get the kind of info I need together - then work with him to make it usable.

It may work, it may not but at least I'll have tried  ;goodvevil;

coaches no...but hypnotherapy and relaxation techniques yes....

if you can master the art of being very relaxed when holding the nuts (no finbar intended) then you are half way to succeeding....

Wow, some of us didnt even know that such a path existed!!

Anyone care to print a map from the jungle to the path? it would be gratefully appreciated :)up

It must be there somewhere - I can't find it & only find the occaisional dirt track inbetween hacking through the bush.

Anyway - if it works I'll be Stevie Collins & the rest of you will be Chris Eubanks!!!

You've been past my way before then?? ;) If you hack through the large thorny bush then take the left of the 2 dirt paths then it brings you out at Jungleville.

Next time your passing let me know, i'm on Vine Lane - Treehouse 6. I'll do you a nice banana coffee :)