Improving your game

[mattiesmat]

I am interested in how and what people do to improve their game.
Maybe me and others can learn a few ways.
I invite anyone who is interested to post a short story about what he does to improve.

I will start:
When I play a session, I save all hands I am not sure about in a document. After the session I post hands on the forum and I check the ICM hands in SNG wizzard. I used to take a print screen of the tables and paste it in the document, to have the stats of PAHUD of all players. Now I look for the stats in the PT database. I use those stats (VP$IP and PFR%) to set 'accurate' ranges. I also show some 'general' hands to other people for review. I chat with some people about poker as well.

Also I read most posted hands on the forum around my buyin and reply in some. I also try to read books. I am currently reading The Poker Mindset (very good IMO). I review some hands/tournies played by other people as well. Oh and of course I play a lot.

[Fishing2do]

I record 2 sets of 4-tables every day, making a video of my play with my commentary. If I get in a 'tuff spot during the recording, I will give a commentary to "myself" on how and why I play the hand. I have a program called SnagIt with which I make a screenshot of the hand. After the set is done I go through all the 'tuff situations. If I cant figure out the best play after I recorded the movie/set and reviewed the screenshots, I post the hand on 2+2. (which doesnt happen that often lol).
I'm guessing those videos I record every day are worth a big bunch of money... but I dont feel like putting them online or selling them. maybe in the future [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Also I've invested hundreds(if not thousands) of dollars in software/hardware/knowledge/subscriptions.. and still am adding to it. I guess if you aren't willing to make these investments, you will have a very hard time to improve as a poker player.

[vers]

I have a couple ideas that I'm saving for my pooh-bah post which will be in the next few days.

[mattiesmat]

[ QUOTE ]
I record 2 sets of 4-tables every day, making a video of my play with my commentary. If I get in a 'tuff spot during the recording, I will give a commentary to "myself" on how and why I play the hand. I have a program called SnagIt with which I make a screenshot of the hand. After the set is done I go through all the 'tuff situations. If I cant figure out the best play after I recorded the movie/set and reviewed the screenshots, I post the hand on 2+2. (which doesnt happen that often lol).
I'm guessing those videos I record every day are worth a big bunch of money... but I dont feel like putting them online or selling them. maybe in the future [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Also I've invested hundreds(if not thousands) of dollars in software/hardware/knowledge/subscriptions.. and still am adding to it. I guess if you aren't willing to make these investments, you will have a very hard time to improve as a poker player.

[/ QUOTE ]

You record the video and give commentary live? Also what software/subscriptions have you got?

[ekinnehs18]

What I do is, after every session:

Run through each game quickly using SNPT while the situations are still fresh in my mind. I then either figure out what I did wrong right on the spot or I make a note of it to go back and review it more in depth.

Of the ones I make a note of, I usually go back and look at them in morning when I am not playing. Most of the time you can figure things out yourself, but if I am still unsure I'll post it on 2+2 or discuss with friends.

One thing that really helped me out to not only review your session in depth but make jot down what was a better way of playing it or what could be another +EV way of playing it.

The important thing though is to actually APPLY your observations into your play in the next session. Easy to say but many times, at least for myself, you can get into robotic mode and play each hand exactly the same way...as oppoesd to adjusting to your opponet and the looseness of the table.

Like for instance, after reviewing my session I find I am not getting enough value out of my AK's. So I recently implemented limping AK on looser tables where there is a good chance there will be a raise behind me. If there is a raise, I can re-shove and get donkeys to call me off with crap hands.

[loxxii]

[ QUOTE ]

Like for instance, after reviewing my session I find I am not getting enough value out of my AK's. So I recently implemented limping AK on looser tables where there is a good chance there will be a raise behind me. If there is a raise, I can re-shove and get donkeys to call me off with crap hands.

[/ QUOTE ]

Am I wrong for thinking this is -EV?

[Nsight7]

Probably negative EV regarding the reshove with AK. You might get some money from the stuff in the pot, but sometimes you will have to abandon the pot to a 4-bet, sometimes your resteal will run into AA/KK, and often enough you will be a slight underdog to a pocket pair TT-QQ. I think that adds up to a pretty marginal situation, wherein you might, just might be getting positive equity, but you smash yourself silly with variance and you probably don't maximize your expected value.

[ekinnehs18]

[ QUOTE ]
Probably negative EV regarding the reshove with AK. You might get some money from the stuff in the pot, but sometimes you will have to abandon the pot to a 4-bet, sometimes your resteal will run into AA/KK, and often enough you will be a slight underdog to a pocket pair TT-QQ. I think that adds up to a pretty marginal situation, wherein you might, just might be getting positive equity, but you smash yourself silly with variance and you probably don't maximize your expected value.

[/ QUOTE ]

Definitely see your point...but from my experience this has actually worked out pretty well, at least at the 24's. Bear in mind I don't do this with every AK I have.

You would not believe some of the things donks will call u of with. It almost as if they spite calling because of an ego thing. I would get called by like Arag,KQ,KJ,QJ,JToff suite connectors,or just absolute rag hands...Do I get outdrawed? of course, but I don't mind getting my money in as a 70/30 most of the time.

[RexWoo]

The best way I ever found to improve is to exhange HH with a motivated player.

[AMT]

coaching other players and making videos actually helps me improve my game even at high buy ins in ways that i could not otherwise focus in on.

i also put my tournaments into hand replayers at random and run through them, making notes on my play and running close shoves to make sure i have a good feel for any grey-area spots.

i post on here a ton and talk with good tournament players on aim constantly.

i never stop trying to learn and absorb situations, scenarios, factors, theory, principles, opinions.