[tipperdog]

Mason,

I think you make some fair points here. You wrote:

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One other point. Over the years I have noticed a number of poker students who are very loyal to their instructors. They feel that if it wasn't for their instructors they wouldn't be winners, and perhaps that is the case. But that doesn't mean that they were given the absolutely best information.

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I am loyal to Barry, as I do believe his advice has substantially increased my win rate. Of course, it's impossible to know if his advice is the "absolute best" (though I'd be immediately suspicious of anyone who claimed to know the "absolute best" answer in all circumstances).

However, Barry bases his advice for me on my playing style and the hands and games we've discussed. Accordingly, I'm much more willing to give his advice the benefit of the doubt, even if that advice contradicts the guidance in SSHE, HEFAP, or PokerRoom EV charts. I don't think that's blind loyalty at all; it actually seems quite reasonable.