How to study...

[Wydow]

What are the most effective ways to study Hold'em? I have never been much of a studier simply because I have never really known how.

I know I need to analyze hands, but how do I do that? How do I break apart a hand and what questions am I wanting to answer by doing so?

When told to study a poker book, how do I do that? Where do you begin?

I have read many poker books, but recently decided to go back and learn what I have read. I have started with "Hold'em Poker" (Sklansky). I am wanting to recover the fundementals of the game and then build on it. Perhaps you guys could give me a few ideas of how to retain the knowledge.

I know this post makes me look like a complete idiot, but I honestly don't know how to effectively study.

Thank you for your time and replies in advance.

[Number27]

There are multiple parts to your question so I'll attempt to answer them as best I can.

As for breaking down a hand, you have to remember the betting action PF and on each subsequent street. Analyze what you did right, what you did wrong, and how you could improve on it in the future.

To figure out where you were right or wrong, poker books do help. Also, posting your problems with a hand here helps as you get more input on how to play the hand.

As for studying poker books, the best approach that has worked for me is to gradually add gears and plays to my repertoire. For instance, read a few chapters and the next time you play use those strategies in places where they are right to use.

The best way to study for me, is to put the concepts into practice and see what works and what doesn't for my style of play. There is very rarely a situation in poker in which there is only one way to play the hand. Learn as much as you can and practice as much as you can and hope for the best. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Nickelcity]

Here's a thread that contains links to some hand review exercises.

Link

[Bigblindal]

Wydow,
thanks for asking your question! It's helped me.

Nickelcity,
Thanks for the Link

[SinkRox]

When Im reading my pkoer books I like to highlight important info and jot down notes on the pages. This helps when you come to re-read it later.

For hands, try reviewing your top 3 winners and loosers after every session, discussing them with others always helps alot

[m3gatl20n]

No better study then playing. If you play online get your hand history, make sure you have a nice quiet spot to read if you plan on doing it from books...basically play ALOT.

[LeFou]

I remember learning to analyze poetry in college; you pick the "turning points" and analyze the thing by sections.

Poker hands can be this way. Find the actions that indicate something has changed (e.g. someone caught a card) and try to figure out what.

[reed62783]

i think this Forum is way better than reading poker books...reading post by respected members and seeing people critic ur hands will make u better

[iezegrim]

Start with Limit Hold 'Em fisrt. Don't learn No Limit or Tournament or Sit & Go until you're a winning Limit player. Start with a beginner's book - "Getting started with Hold 'Em" by Ed Miller which is published by Two Plus Two.
read through the Limit section at least twice. Download the software "Poker Academy" (play against computer opponents) and practise what you've learned. Then go to a poker site like Paradise Poker, deposit $10 and start playing the 2c/4c
games. Don't ever play the free games - people don't play properly when it's not real money.
Then buy "Small Stakes Hold 'Em" by Ed Miller, Malmuth and Sklansky also published by TwoPlusTwo. Read it through at least 3 times and make sure you get all the practice hands right without having to look at the answers.The essential key is understanding all the concepts rather than any memorization. Practise with Poker Academy and work your way up through the levels of Paradise. Once I'd won 100 bets playing 2c/4c I went up to 5c/10c and so on.If I lost 50 bets, I'd go down a level.
Once you're confident, go to your local casino and play the lowest stakes possible. Continue to study and practise and go over any concepts in the book that you're shaky about. Create a preflop starting hand chart in Excel and print it out and use it when you practise and play online.
I started playing Poker only 4 months ago. I did all of the above and I am now averaging $10 an hour. If you've been to college you will find it a lot easier because it is the same type of learning (an iterative process of reading, understanding, applying and practising) that you get in problem solving subjects like Engineering. If you are intelligent and are willing to work hard, it is possible to become a winning player and then a professional player within a year. If you're not, it can take decades to become even a break-even player.Poker is a very difficult game.That's why it's so popular; people love the challenge.

[IDN101]

[ QUOTE ]
Start with Limit Hold 'Em fisrt. Don't learn No Limit or Tournament or Sit & Go until you're a winning Limit player. Start with a beginner's book - "Getting started with Hold 'Em" by Ed Miller which is published by Two Plus Two.
read through the Limit section at least twice. Download the software "Poker Academy" (play against computer opponents) and practise what you've learned. Then go to a poker site like Paradise Poker, deposit $10 and start playing the 2c/4c
games. Don't ever play the free games - people don't play properly when it's not real money.
Then buy "Small Stakes Hold 'Em" by Ed Miller, Malmuth and Sklansky also published by TwoPlusTwo. Read it through at least 3 times and make sure you get all the practice hands right without having to look at the answers.The essential key is understanding all the concepts rather than any memorization. Practise with Poker Academy and work your way up through the levels of Paradise. Once I'd won 100 bets playing 2c/4c I went up to 5c/10c and so on.If I lost 50 bets, I'd go down a level.
Once you're confident, go to your local casino and play the lowest stakes possible. Continue to study and practise and go over any concepts in the book that you're shaky about. Create a preflop starting hand chart in Excel and print it out and use it when you practise and play online.
I started playing Poker only 4 months ago. I did all of the above and I am now averaging $10 an hour. If you've been to college you will find it a lot easier because it is the same type of learning (an iterative process of reading, understanding, applying and practising) that you get in problem solving subjects like Engineering. If you are intelligent and are willing to work hard, it is possible to become a winning player and then a professional player within a year. If you're not, it can take decades to become even a break-even player.Poker is a very difficult game.That's why it's so popular; people love the challenge.

[/ QUOTE ]

Solid advice (especially the Poker Academy bit)

Ian
www.PokerPlan.net