Blonde 'Beginners League' - Anyone interested?

[Jon MW]

There's lots of approximation.

But - Blonde has about 3 sign ups a day - so about 1000 a year
If there is a 5% to 10% (rough approximation based on direct marketing approximately equating to posting about it on the forum) take up rate of the beginners league that gives about 50-100 runners throughout the year. As I would expect some people to not enter every month then I think this level of runners would make for a competitive but achievable league level.

Like I said it involved a lot of guesswork, but I think the biggest thing to hinder the development of this idea would be if there weren't enough people taking part and raising from 6 months to 12 months is probably the best way of avoiding this possibility.

[kinboshi]

Why place a ceiling on it at all?  I'm still a beginner and would benefit from it.

[boldie]

Why place a ceiling on it at all?  I'm still a beginner and would benefit from it.

I think everyone would. I find that I learn more when I have to explain myself to someone else than when I listen to an expert tell me something.

[kinboshi]

Why place a ceiling on it at all?  I'm still a beginner and would benefit from it.

I think everyone would. I find that I learn more when I have to explain myself to someone else than when I listen to an expert tell me something.

What do you mean by that?

[Jon MW]

... I find that I learn more when I have to explain myself to someone else ...

This is a well known phenomenon, I trained to be a Maths teacher and it was widely accepted amongst everybody on the course that while we could do some of the more complicated stuff easily enough - it was only when we got to teaching other people how to do it that we really understood it.

Nothing makes you understand a subject more than teaching it to somebody else, and explaining it is the next best option to teaching it.

[TheChipPrince]

Excellent idea, hope it takes off for all concerned...

[boldie]

... I find that I learn more when I have to explain myself to someone else ...

This is a well known phenomenon, I trained to be a Maths teacher and it was widely accepted amongst everybody on the course that while we could do some of the more complicated stuff easily enough - it was only when we got to teaching other people how to do it that we really understood it.

Nothing makes you understand a subject more than teaching it to somebody else, and explaining it is the next best option to teaching it.

indeed..I find I play better poker when I have to justify my every move.

[Eck]

Just to clarify does "They are French/German/Belgian/Dutch/Greek* they don't like it up them!!!!" qualify as good reason for jamming?

Is that the kind of thought process we are looking for here? 

* delete as appropriate

[boldie]

Just to clarify does "They are French/German/Belgian/Dutch/Greek* they don't like it up them!!!!" qualify as good reason for jamming?

Is that the kind of thought process we are looking for here? 

* delete as appropriate

yes..although the Greeks do like it up them..so be careful there..

[Laxie]

Good ideas lads...keep em coming!  Might be no harm to open it to all who feel they need improvement while the idea is being tweaked.  Nothing written in stone says it has to be 6 months or less and no point sticking to that theory if it means very few enter the tourney on the night.  The basic principles would be the same (no mucking, discuss hands after the hand is complete, etc.) but it would be open to everyone who is genuinely interested in improving their game.  Some people are better suited to learning while playing rather than reading PHA.  With both in place, it would mean there's something for everyone.

[The_duke]

  = beginner thank you

[Moskvich]

Good idea and I'd also be interested in playing if there's no time-period-qualification-thing.

I think it would be important though that the games were as close as possible to the real thing. For me, this would mean that they shouldn't be restricted to beginners - I don't think you can analyse a hand properly, to a decent level, if everyone playing knows they're beginners and that their opponents are beginners as well...  Also I personally don't think you should use the 'no mucking' rule, as again it changes the game conditions. If you are forced to show a bluff you then have to change your strategy to account for the fact that you've just shown a bluff. (And analysis of plays further down the line may have to take account of this too, complicating everything further). In a 'real' game you wouldn't have shown it... so you're not really practicing for the real thing.

[boldie]

Good idea and I'd also be interested in playing if there's no time-period-qualification-thing.

I think it would be important though that the games were as close as possible to the real thing. For me, this would mean that they shouldn't be restricted to beginners - I don't think you can analyse a hand properly, to a decent level, if everyone playing knows they're beginners and that their opponents are beginners as well...  Also I personally don't think you should use the 'no mucking' rule, as again it changes the game conditions. If you are forced to show a bluff you then have to change your strategy to account for the fact that you've just shown a bluff. (And analysis of plays further down the line may have to take account of this too, complicating everything further). In a 'real' game you wouldn't have shown it... so you're not really practicing for the real thing.

I think there should be mucking during the tourney..BUT afterwards everything should be replayed with all holecards exposed..like the stars mill final table. (Assuming this is possible of course)

[Graham C]

Just my thoughts, but I'm beginning to wonder how this is going to turn into a beginners workshop now.   It seems to be developing into a proper league that everyone is wanting to play but people have to explain why they win hands, is there any difference from the blonde league that have run in the past?

Are you not in danger of getting away from the reasons that you wanted to do this for?

[HOLDorFOLD]

I've been playing since Feb, and still class myself as very much a beginner. 

As time has gone by I feel I have learnt loads from the blonde leagues, the threads and general play time BUT at the same time the more I have read up the more I seem to have 'lost' that 'gamblers' edge/instinct/cohonas even that I had right at the beginning.  My play has tightened up too much I think and a league like this where the cards are exposed after every hand (which is equivalent to the hole card cameras really) could be very beneficial to those, like me, who play too close to ABC poker. Yes we do OK, often going deep into tourny's, sometimes cashing big, BUT as someone mentioned on another thread that the mindset seems to be more emphasised on going deep rather than WINNING. Play to win don't play to go deep.

Just seeing some of the bluffs, or what others are calling/raising with will help a lot.  Also, being advised by the tutors that a pre-flop raise wasn't big enough, or that a post flop call could have been made as the pot odds where there for you to call it etc. Things like that which the beginners hear about but not nessessarily have digested yet.

If it's decided that I'm eligble to enter then put me down for it.  If not then hey I'm still going to watch the games and take some notes 

Great idea Laxie. Hope this takes off