Returning to live poker.

[Killing Joke]

I can not believe how the game has changed from what I left years ago. I think I put a lot of effort in learning to play only to find games riddled with cheats, syndicates, poor dealers being dominated by players into miss calling pots. I was swindled out of several huge stacks going into the final tables.  One day I had the big stack and increased it another 50% taking a guy out.  He appeared one hour later at the final table with a bigger stack than me!!! Card room managers did nothing despite several regulars confirming I had the guy all in one hour earlier.

The standard of dealing, card room management seems to be in a new league. I wasn't expecting it.  So although not planned I really feel I want to play more of these games.

I was a bit of a rock (tight and weak) and I don't want to get into that rut again despite it having won me some tournies in the past. I have a lingering idea that I had read that taking marginal decisions in tournies is not good. I am blaming that lingering idea on me having folded two hands which would have given me a chip lead with 13 left.
 
I am desperate now to try and develop my game but I want to have a more dynamic style and embrace chances and take the beats on the chin. As a rock before I only ever lost having the best hand bore the board was out, hence mostly going home cussing and feeling angry.

Having at least took more chances it has been great to win pots with the worst starting hand and the beats don't hurt anywhere near as much.   I actually shook someone's hand who took me out and felt at ease, pleased for him that he had a bigger stack, I hung around, chatted to players, all things which felt good. God know how screwed up I had become previously.

So please, can you point me in the direction of books and other resources that profess a more relaxed, taking chances sort of a playing style. 

Where's the best place to learning about working decisions out with reference to the players, their style, current situation, putting them on ranges, etc. It just seems there's too much info out there. 

Thanks.;

[SuuPRlim]

Taking chances isnt always the best way - it is ofc all situationally Dependant.

Learning to analyse the situation, looking at the flow of the game, the style of your opponents, the structure of the tournament and how you are perceived at the table and using all these factors to make a better decision in the moment.

players that open more pots, play more hands and get themselves in plenty of spots to win pots give themselves a great opportunity to quickly accumulate chips, and more importantly they give themselves the chance to win lots of pots without having to showdown. It's much much better to win a 50,000 chip pot without showdown, than get you money in a 300k pot with 60-70%

weak tight players will at least only be small losers long run, but you'll always get crushed by good aggressive players.

[Killing Joke]

OK, who is a good read for getting more aggressive?

Any good books containing examples of how to think through decisions?

Appreciate the help.

[Longy]

Meh poker books especially when it comes to strategy. Harrington on holdem is pretty good for basic stuff, though it is pretty dated even though it is only 4/5 years old that is a long time in poker.

Imo you are better off reading forums, posting on pha, reading (maybe posting) on the strategy forums on 2+2.

2+2 was deffo responsible for my biggest leaps in learning in poker.

[deadbeat]

Longy is defo correct, by the time a books written and published a new way of playing seems to have come along forums like 2+2 or even cardrunners if you wanna pay are where everyone seems to turn now for advice. I'd have to say though dependent on what tournaments you are playing buyin etc, the discussion and stlye of play can be too aggressive and too advanced for your average £50-£100 comp as players ar less liable to fold pre flop especially in early stages of touranments. Overbetting seems to work extremely well against weaker players but you can't only do this with the nuts you've got to be willing to show them air every once in a while to getting believing.

[pleno1]

www.leggopoker.com

cardrunners

bluefire

Watch, learn, study, crush.

[outragous76]

pokerxfactor for MTT's

those above for cash

[GreekStein]

get coaching from the best in the business, patrick leonard.