How often do you Study?

[Runn233]

It is not enough that you gain experince by playing. If you post on this forum, most likely you own at least one book of 2+2. My question is: How often do you study? Do you read the books once and think you're an expert? Do you read everyday? Do you actually go over the Questions and Answers at the back of SSHE once a week to keep your game sharp? What is your method?

[Al_Money]

There is plently to be learned from reading books, but posting in the strategy forums helps to reinforce what you have learned and actually apply it to situations. That said, most 2+2 books take a couple of readings to really sink in IMO. But the forum is an excellent tool as well.

[Bodizapha]

There is no match for actually playing. Books are okay, but unless you can apply the knowledge they are pointless. I like reading and posting on the forums. I also like watching the better players play. That helps me.

[SpeakEasy]

I study every time I lose a hand -- I review the hand history, see what I did wrong and how I could have played it differently.

[knife420]

i spend a few hours playing most days, i look at a few post nearly everyday, i keep a journal for my play(swaped comps and havent picked up a new tracker so it helps), when it comes to books im reading something almost everyday, i take the time to read through most of my books once, then go back through with pen paper and highlighter and begin to study. My book work has forced me to think more at the table, and the more thought i put in at the table the better i seem to do

[Gugel]

Books only go so far, especially if you game is NL. Of course you want to learn from the mistakes of OTHER people, but the reality is, YOU are going to have to make those mistakes, analyze them and let other people look them over, to truly learn.

[GeoffH]

Right now I'm taking a student's approach to the game, after 2 years of playing without studying, I realized I may not be as good at poker as I once thought. So in a period of a week or so I studied some of the better books in great depth (that is; take notes, practice problems, and re-read) and sure enough I was right. You can't take lessons from your play if you don't know what to look for, much like you can't learn math from just reading your textbook without practicing the problems.

The biggest step in my studies came when I realized after reading Theory of Poker, and other 2+2 stuff; there is more to mastering poker than playing poker, and reading poker books. There is a whole wealth of knowledge out there that can be applied to poker, but one has to do it on their own. As a university student with a math and economics background, I realized I've been studying poker for 5 years and just haven't applied it. Studying psychology, finance, mathematics and statistics, game theory, and even a little philosophy will make anyone a better player if they can apply these topics independently!

That being said, I now study poker and these related topics Full-time, much like a math student studies math full time. Most people never think to take a break from play, especially if they are winning, however I can say that it is the best thing I've done for myself. Of course I'm still playing, and I do not mean to underestimate the importance of practical experience. However those who say that they learn more from playing, and don't bother reading and really studying their game are limiting themselves and their potential. Remember you don't need to play less to read more! Unless you play like 16 hours a day, which is a little crazy, you can advance your play with simultaneous studies.

In summary, I think that far too many players get enamoured with their 'winning' play and discredit studying as a waste of time since they are winning already. But it can only help, so study as much as humanly possible on top of your optimal amount of playing time, and especially study things you never thought to look at before, nothing feels better than discovering a new poker concept yourself!

Note: If you have a wife/girlfriend/boyfriend they're gonna have to go [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Mojination]

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Note: If you have a wife/girlfriend/boyfriend they're gonna have to go [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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I'm going to disagree with you here. I won't give up pussy for the world. You must be studying 8 hours or more a day to not have time for a woman. I currently have a relationship and have plenty of time to play/study poker. Of course I'm a college student so when the semester starts my time will be much more limited. However this summer i'm working 30+ hours a week, playing poker and studying it like a fiend, and I still have time on the weekends for the old lady. As soon as anything, even a career as a CEO (or any good career), becomes so important that you don't have time for a relationship/family I'd say you've just gone and lost it. I LOVE VAGINA. I wouldn't give it up for poker.

[jsthomas64]

Mojination, one thing you have to realize is you're a college student, so your girlfriend is probably a 19 year-old piece of A$$. Wait until you're married, she pops out 2 kids and you've spent the last 10 years staring at each over EVERY DAY over the dinner table and you've run out of anything meaningful to talk about 8 years ago other than which kid beat up the other that day or why you were getting your balls busted for not putting a cover on your TPS report at the office that day.

You're also waaaaay to idealistic, most college students are, I was. Wait until you have a $300K mortgage (which will buy a 1200 sq ft ranch by the time you buy a home!) and a couple cars and private school for the kids, then you'll see how important that job REALLY is.

[Dazarath]

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There is no match for actually playing. Books are okay, but unless you can apply the knowledge they are pointless. I like reading and posting on the forums. I also like watching the better players play. That helps me.

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It's true that study alone will not make you into a good poker player, but many times only play will not make you into one, either. Take, for example, a lot of the old players at B&M casinos. They've been playing for some 20-40 years of their lives, but many younger internet players run them over. Why is this? My guess is due to the structure of poker, one does not necessarily get better with more play. It requires that you examine your play and change it for the better.

Now, this could be said about anything, sports, video games, etc etc. But the reward system in poker is unlike what we're normally used to. For example, in school, we do well on a test, and we get a good grade, or maybe a prize. Positive action -> positive reward. On the other hand, in poker, you could play AA perfectly, and still lose 10 times in a row. This is what leads to fish saying stupid things like, "AA is a terrible hand, that's why I don't raise with it", or "83s is my lucky hand, I make a boat with it half the time". More knowledge players know that this is just short-term, results oriented thinking.