Thinking vs reacting

TheHome · #1 08-21-2006, 03:49 PM

When railbirding higher and even playing middle stakes games I see that good players constantly take there time in decent sized pots, if there is any doubt. Here is a quote from HoldemKillahs post: "I seriously believe that if I had another 30-60sec to act I could have folded it...seriously. I timed all the way down before shoving but oh well. "

When I play I just press buttons like (badly) trained monkey and never think over the decission, it's bit like I would be playing a slot machine.
So my question is how can one devolope an objective view to poker so that I'm able to analyze the situations and think through before just reacting and making terrible decissions.

keikiwai · #2 08-21-2006, 03:51 PM

Play less tables. Wait 5 seconds before pressing a button no matter what.

TheHome · #3 08-21-2006, 03:59 PM

I have 1 and 2 tabled a ton. Just basicly what im saying is how Strassa2 etc. are able to view poker as a game like chess, instead of viewing it as a gamble like blackjack. I dunno what it is, but I just sort of wanna just let the luck decide what happens.

Jamougha · #4 08-21-2006, 04:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I dunno what it is, but I just sort of wanna just let the luck decide what happens.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Down 60k

[/ QUOTE ]

NO RLY?

T-God · #5 08-21-2006, 04:03 PM

Thinking is overrated

keikiwai · #6 08-21-2006, 04:03 PM

Then make a check list of everything to consider before hitting a button:

1) What's my hand? Strength? Chance to improve / worsen? Pot odds. Implied odds. etc.
2) What hands can villain have? How will they react to my action.
3) What hands does villain think I have?

etc.

Just going over what hands villain may have, and what hands he thinks you may have is often more than enough.

Zag · #7 08-21-2006, 04:07 PM

1. Make one or two brilliant laydowns, calls, or raises.

2. Realize that it is wa-a-a-a-ay more fun to make money because of a smart play than to make money because of luck.

3. Failing #2, switch to roulette.

Blizzardbaum · #8 08-21-2006, 04:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
When railbirding higher and even playing middle stakes games I see that good players constantly take there time in decent sized pots, if there is any doubt. Here is a quote from HoldemKillahs post: "I seriously believe that if I had another 30-60sec to act I could have folded it...seriously. I timed all the way down before shoving but oh well. "

When I play I just press buttons like (badly) trained monkey and never think over the decission, it's bit like I would be playing a slot machine.
So my question is how can one devolope an objective view to poker so that I'm able to analyze the situations and think through before just reacting and making terrible decissions.

[/ QUOTE ]

1 table for an hour. Before you make any action (fold, call, raise, etc) ask yourself "Why am I taking this action?"

Most of the answers will be obvious like "I am folding 72o UTG because it is horrible," but the extra time you take to analyze each situation should allow you to make profitable plays with very marginal hodlings (like calling with A-high and raising attempted bluffs with air).

Keepitsimple · #9 08-21-2006, 04:12 PM

You make the ev calcs away from the table. You obviously dont have time to do it at the table. Unless you are a freak ofc.

downtown · #10 08-21-2006, 04:13 PM

Try to think more about putting your opponent on a hand. Think about it on every street. it takes a few seconds no matter what, and it's one of the most valuable NL skills.