blitzing on third and long and the problem with poker forum advice

[sahaguje]

I have a slight disagreement here. I really think that in a given situation there is one best play. It is the complexity of the factors a good player takes into account while making his decision that creates the illusion of mixing it up. Of course, it ends up the same way : the good player plays differently hands that would look the same to unexperienced players.

But I do not think it is a good idea to make people think that there is some intrinsec value of randomization. There is not, unless it takes place in a very specific plan, but then again it is not randomization. Beginners (including me) should never voluntary make random decisions; they should on the contrary try to refine and work on their game to the point where they "naturally" mix up their play in apparent similar situations.

So I agree there is a problem with the way we handle posts here. But it my opinion, it is the lack of two things in the hands posted, and in the way they are answered : psychological aspects, of course (reads, recent hands etc.) ; but also integration into a game plan. Maybe this is more important in live play, but I am quite sure it is underrated by online players. The same hand should not be played the same way if you are playing a "target", if you are intending to double up quickly in order to cover up a bad player to your left, if you want to play a long session and then want to convey a specific image, if you know that a player on your table is very likely to tilt if he takes a beat etc.

That is IMO the way one should mix his game. Not by randomization, but by increasing the number of factors taken into account when making a decision.

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