My Poker Journal

Written by Nigel

Have you ever kept a journal or diary when you were younger?  I suppose this activity (in its traditional sense) is fast disappearing, largely due to the existence of blogs.  I myself remember fondly those days when I wrote on actual paper.  Anyhow, the reason I asked is that I realized that keeping a journal is actually something that can help in my quest to take my poker game to the next level.  How so?

In keeping a poker diary, I can target three things:  I can keep track of my progress (or lack of it for that matter), I can take down new experiences, and I can do something about my observations.  First, keeping track of progress is an important thing in any endeavor.  Knowing where you stand lets you know how far you are from your goal.  It allows you to look back and measure how much you have improved.  At the same time if you do not see improvement, you have it on paper and you can do something about it.

Next, experience is one of the best teachers.  Yet human as we are, we may not remember every little detail that is important to the learning process.  With a poker diary or journal, we can revisit those new experiences and learn from them all over again.

Last, keeping a poker journal is not about just taking down notes.  It is for a specific goal.  It is merely a guide and a reminder to help you reach that goal.  Next time, let’s take a look at some specifics that I write down in my journal.

What’s My Problem: A Poll

Written by Nigel

Some time ago, poker web site Homepoker.com held a poll asking this particular question: What’s my problem?  They gave 6 possible answers from which web site visitors could choose from.  I myself did not participate in the poll but the results really interested me and made me take a deeper look as to what my weaknesses in poker are.  Let’s take a look at the results.

The “winner” answer was “I can’t read my opponents.”  A total of 28 percent of the respondents chose this answer.  Next is “I take too many chances/I play too many hands” at 26 percent.  “I can’t lay down a losing hand” comes in third at 16 percent.  “I can’t bluff credibly” is next with 13 percent.  At 11 percent is the answer “Nothing.  I’ll whip you like eggs.”  Last is “I gamble too much at limits that are too high” at 5 percent.

Now that we’ve seen the answers, I’m gonna try to take a look at some of them and decide which one is MY problem.  I think it seems pretty realistic that a lot of people have the problem of reading their opponents.  I would say that I just might be in the same boat.  Then again, I also have problems when it comes to bluffing.  So maybe I should tick that one off too.  I would say that these two are quite ok, as compared to gambling too much at limits that are too high.  What say you?

The Aggressive Player

Written by Nigel

You’ve heard about them – you’ve probably even played against them.  The aggressive player has been one of the main characters is many poker stories.  Yet how do you deal with them in a real poker game?  In order to do so, you must know what goes on in the head of an aggressive player.  You must know what makes him tick and then come up with your strategy.

As many poker pros always say, poker is as much a game about the players as it is about the cards.  You always have to take into consideration the people you play with in order to be successful in poker.  So why do aggressive players play the way they do?  How do you deal with one?  According to Mart Wortman, one strategy would be to play the same way.  He explains further:

In Caro’s Fundamental Secrets of Winning Poker, Mike Caro advises that pots go to the player who ‘takes command’ of the table. Have you ever noticed a table of players so cautious about one specific player that they withhold showing initiative until that player has acted? That player has taken command of the table. If he’s a weak player who just got lucky, he’ll soon lose command when he loses his chips. Otherwise, he will maximize his winnings by being the only loose player at the table. Don’t be afraid to be this player if nobody else is. And, if the loose-aggressive player is playing this way because he’s a strong player who is taking command, then you must show no respect for that command. Bet into him when you have the hand for it. Raise him if you think he’s being a bully. Play more like him to challenge his command.

Negreanu on I-play

Written by Nigel

I thought I’d diverge from the strategy topics that we have been talking about lately as I saw this bit of news that you poker nuts out there would probably rave about – it certainly pumped up my blood.  We all know Daniel Negreanu, one of the most prominent pro poker players today.  Well, it seems that he has signed up with I-poker to bring us consumers more poker fun.  Here is the news clip, read for yourselves:

The UK company’s roots are in mobile gaming, but it diversified into video last year. The signing of Negreanu, arguably the most successful tournament player in poker history, should broaden I-play’s product roster significantly.

It’s now planning a range of poker products such as over 100 made-for-mobile streaming video clips spanning the basic fundamentals of Texas Hold’em poker to more advanced topics such as tournament play, no-limit strategy to tells and bluffs. The footage will be shot at the Venetian Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas. I-play and Negreanu will also work on a next generation poker game using AI that will be tested against the poker legend himself.

Leighton Webb, I-play’s SVP of content strategy and licensing, said: “We are thrilled to be working with someone as accomplished and well-respected as Daniel.  I-play’s streaming mobile video app and game will be the ultimate poker products available on the market. The mobile video signals a ground-breaking new product and an industry first.”

Negreanu has accumulated over 36 tournament poker victories in his career earning $9.6 million dollars. In 1998, he became the youngest World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion.

Why Did I Lose (Part 2)

Written by Nigel

In the last post, we ended with a discussion on having the wrong opponents at the table and the two options – get better or get out.  Another possible for losing a poker game is can be attributed to two “bad” things.  It is either bad luck or bad play.  Let’s look at the first reason.  Whether you admit it or not, there is an element of luck in poker.  There are definitely going to be times when you will get bad cards.  There is no doubt about that.  You can attribute that to bad luck.  Yet if we go one step further and analyze things, you just might realize that though bad luck lands nasty cards on your lap, it cannot be blamed for your playing them.  That is why there is a move called folding…Poker is not only about getting good hands but also about minimizing your losses when you get the bad hands.  Are you getting my drift?

Now how about bad play?  What I described above is essentially that.  You need to know when to fold and when to plough on ahead.  If you choose to play a bad hand, then that is your fault.  Now going back to bad luck – there are really cases wherein you may be a victim of it.  This can happen even if you play your hands correctly and someone else at the table gets lucky on the river.  In this case, you can’t fault yourself for anything.

The bottom line is this: play as well as you can and don’t be too quick in blaming luck for your losses.

Why Did I Lose? (Part 1)

Written by Nigel

Face it, not many people want to remember their moments of defeat.  Whether you are talking about life in general or poker, this statement has a ring of truth to it.  However, as I heard a good poker player say once, only in pondering your losses can you only really improve your game.  Interesting, to say the least.

So how can analyzing your losses help you in improving your game?  It is simple, really.  There is a reason for your losses.  When you analyze those losses, you just might stumble upon a flaw in your game.  Either that or you just had a bad streak that night, in which case there is no need to beat yourself up for it.

One reason for losing at the table is having the wrong opponents.  Yes you read that right.  However, we are not trying to put the blame on others here.  The idea is that no matter how good you are, there will always be someone better than you out there.  With 8 players or so at the table, you just might be outclassed by one or two or more of them!  If that is the case, then the only thing for you to do is to change tables or take the bull by the horns and get better at the game.  If you take the second option, you can only get better by learning from the way you lose to these better players.

Let’s look at more reasons next time.

Having A Gameplan

Written by Nigel

What gameplan?  You may be asking this question as you read the title.  I wouldn’t blame you.  The way I have been harping on relying on poker instinct in the past couple of posts, some of you might have gotten the impression that it is better to be totally lose about playing.  However, that was not my intention with those posts.  As I also kept on saying, you still have to think and analyze the situation – just do not overdo it.  My point is, when playing poker – or even before you sit down at the table – you must have a solid gameplan in mind.

The purpose for this is so that you will have a direction while at the table.  Though you must rely on your well developed poker instinct, you must also have a clear path in your mind of where you want to go.   Otherwise, your instinct will serve no clear purpose.  So how do you come up with your own gameplan?

Simple.  You must take into consideration three things:  the type of game, the players, and the level of competition.  First consider what poker variation you are playing.  Of course, the strategy that you employ will vary with the type of poker you are going to play.  Having the right mindset beforehand will help you set a successful strategy.  As for the players, it would help if you knew who you are going to play with.  This helps in determining whether you are going to play lose or aggressive.  Last, knowing the stakes would mean a great deal.  High stakes mean that players would be more serious about the game.

Knowing these things will help you outline your strategy.  Of course, this does not mean that you cannot change plans midgame if necessary.

How To Develop Your Instinct (Part 2)

Written by Nigel

In the last post, we ended with the need of being totally focused on the game, no matter what your situation is.  Corollary to that, being focused means that you never make hasty decisions.  Using your instincts is not the same as merely jumping to decisions.  Instinct is honed and incorporates taking in the situation at the table.  It involves making decisions in a short amount of time.  Thinking is still involved although long drawn out analysis is not.

The next way to develop your poker instinct is to analyze your losses.  Yes, though we emphasized the importance of making quick decision at the table, there is a place and time for long drawn out thinking – but not at the table.  It is inevitable that at one point or another you will experience a loss or two, maybe more.  Learn from them.  Do not let losses get you down.  Instead, think about how you lost and why you lost.  In doing so, you will be able to find the flaws in your game and then start doing something to get rid of those flaws.

Last, but not the least, think about the reason you like playing poker.  More likely than not you will say something to the effect of having fun, right?  If so, then the thing to do at the table would be to relax and enjoy!  Do not be all uptight only thinking about winning.  Enjoy the whole game and you will learn more things than you thought you would.

How To Develop Your Instinct (Part 1)

Written by Nigel

We talked about simplifying things when playing poker last time.  What I didn’t mention is that one way you can simplify things is when you have honed your poker instinct.  What do I mean?  In contrast to analyzing the odds and the psyche of the players around you, making decisions by instinct is something intuitive.  For some people, this poker instinct is innate.  For others, it has to be developed.  Here are some ways you can develop your poker instinct.

Play, play, and then play some more.  Read up on any material about poker and you will see one word recurring – experience.  Nothing beats experience when it comes to sharpening one’s skills AND instincts.  Being immersed in various different situations gives you a feel of the game that cannot be matched by all the theoretical analyses in the world.  Take the lead from athletes of other games, what do they do? They train intensely knowing that only in actually participating in the sport will they be able to reach peak condition.  Cliché as it may be, practice makes perfect.

No matter how much you play, if you do not focus totally on the game, you will not achieve much.  That is another requisite for honing your poker instinct – total focus.  The tendency for poker players is to loosen up after they fold.  They are not part of the hand anymore.  So their minds wander wherever.  Do not make this mistake!  After folding, there is no excuse to lose your focus.  Pay attention at all times!

Simplifying Things

Written by Nigel

Just like many other activities we engage in, sometimes, being successful in poker is all about simplifying things.  What do I mean by this?  Let’s take a specific variation of poker, say Texas Hold ‘em.  As a beginner, you would probably feel a bit overwhelmed at some point and not get everything about the game.

You have to know the rules, the basics, the strategy, and all that stuff.  Terms, betting, folding, calling, raising, odds, etc. – if you try to process all these factors all at once, the chances are that you are going to go crazy trying to make the best out of your situation.  Hand after hand you just might not get all the points and end up being frustrated.  Add to that the statistics, the math, and things can get really complicated.

This is not to say that you should not take the time to learn all these things, though.  There is no doubt about it, the person who knows the statistics and different strategies will have an edge over the person who does not study anything.  However, there are times when gut feel and simple thinking is all you need.

Basically, all the decision making processes happen during betting rounds.  There are countless different situations in poker of course.  Yet always remember, when things get tough, maybe it is not the time to over analyze the situation.  Maybe you would be better off making simple decisions.  Think about it and try it the next time you play poker.

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