Do i need lessons??

[jezza777]

Yeah I agree, got it last xmas good read, helped me a lot. When you know the general theory, hand % ect.. it really comes down to situations and psychology rather than, " oh AK so i raise x amount. " Corny I know but the hand you hold becomes less and less of an issue.

[tikay]

Now we are getting somewhere. Forget hand specifics.

Suzanne, I think you have the answers I hoped you would.

[The Baron]

Bruce Lee used to talk about the middle part of learning being the toughest. If you throw a punch at an absolute beginner, chances are the arms will go up and successfuly block it. same with a master who's training has been fully assimilated into the unconscious. the intermediate student, with their heads ever filling with new and diverse information will be slower to react because they'll be trying to apply their knowledge to an action that needs to be instinctive to work. It's them that get the bruises

I've found poker is very similar in this regard. a brand new player will often instictively negotiate the game. Big hands are easy to spot and they'll often limp into the pot with junk a top pro might bluff with and hit. they'll often make perfectly timed moves by accident and catch 'better players' out by hitting slim draws or or not spotting the better players beautifuly crafted bluff. In this middle stage that most of us are in we're constantly trying to apply book learned knowledge, combined with past experience and it leads to wrong steps. Driving home from the casino used to be 40 minutes thinking over the half dozen or more serious mistakes I'd made in the night. More often these days I'm driving home feeling generally good about my game but analysing one vital error. I think you have to learn at the tables and try to avoid making the same mistakes too often.

theoretically the mistakes you make will become fewer and less serious but in practice I heard Phil Ivey say recently that he never plays a tournament where he doesn't make serious mis-steps that he kicks himself for.

Good post.

I'm in love with about 5 people from pokerpants.

[Colchester Kev]

Only 5 ?   my god man you must have high standards

[AdamM]

pokerpants?
am I missing something

[TightEnd]

you are happily married, so you are missing a bit less than the rest of us. Do a google!

[The Baron]

Only 5 ?   my god man you must have high standards

Dammit Kev! You got me! That was a typo! 55 fine ladies!

[AdamM]

right

[suzanne]

Yes Tikey and thank you all for your words of advise.

[Royal Flush]

Does anyone like my pic on Poker Pants??

Adam has given some very sound adivce in this thread. It is the best way i have ever seen this point put accross.

However he is still a ROCK!! That game last night was funny, Malc vs Adam in a pot, there would be a raise and a re-raise pre flop then the flop would come....check check....check check....check check!!!

Nah only joking really, i respect the way everyone plays and you do have to find your own style, the trick comes through experience (and i know i have only been playing for under 3 years, however i reckon i have played a lot more poker in that time than those who have played for 15 years) to be able to vary your style. I can play like a rock and i can play like an at-it merchant, whichever i play depends on the table i am on. However i always want people to think i am at-it, it's much easier when people only have 1 move against you.

[ifm]

i thought someone gave you a lesson the other day Suzanne

[pokerram]

just one point anout ss1 and ss2 doyle states against weaker players your going to have to show a hand.i read doyle and tj cloutiers books and ended up somewhere in the middle    pokerram (steve)

[suzanne]

HAHAHA @ ifm...you got lucky mate and revenge will be sweet

[Robert HM]

Shall we talk about the last hand you played that night suzanne 

[doubleup]

Suzanne

One thing you should consider is that the long run in tournaments is very very long and what seem like wrong moves might actually turn out to be the right moves over the long run. 

I played in the ladbrokes $300 on Tuesday, I reraised someone with 99 to be called by 88,  I twice called shortish stacks (about 1/3 of my stack)with A9, to be shown T9 and 89.  Over the last year I went out of 6 major tournaments with JJ running into a bigger pair, but I won 2 big hands in Baden EPT with JJ.

There are often situations in the late middle stages of tournaments that can't be avoided if you are playing aggressively and correctly.