[Bogglor]

Beer:

There is no doubt that you and many of the other posters who've noticed the trend of improving play are correct. I've noticed it particularly in the last 6 months.

A popular axim is that limit play is about what you hold and no limit play is about your opponent holds. Now I think since that so many people play a very similar book-learned style, this axim is becoming less and less true by the day. I find myself thinking much more about what my opponents hold now and how to get that money in the middle than I ever did when I could just multitable 3 fish laden games. The era of the lazy poker player is surely coming to a close.

It definitely feels like there are fewer "good" games online by comparison anymore. As the popular craze winds down, there are far fewer players playing for fun/entertainment. Most of the literature tells you that online play is weaker and looser than live play, but I have never found this to be true at all. Someone who has an account on an online poker site had to go to a site, download a client, fund a netwallet, and make a deposit. This is much more effort and demonstrates a level of seriousness far above simply walking into a casino and playing poker for fun as many do.

All of that said, I still had my best statistical month ever in cash game play in October. The players are getting better, but so am I (god I hope so). The good player has to constantly strive to stay one step ahead of the game if he expects to continue to earn. That may involve adjusting his game to incorporate "imperfect" play, running more bluffs, saving bets -- whatever. Whatever the game you're in suggests you have to do -- do it. The ability to adjust is what will separate the wheat from the chaff going forward.