Further Improving your game

[smackdown42]

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of what I can do to further improve my poker game. I play primarily texas hold em. I have read most of the Sklanksy and Malmuth books, have played in casinos and online. I feel as though i am a decent player, but would like to get better. For me, when the learning stops the game is no longer fun or challenging. It becomes very routine and automatic and I was wondering what I can do to become better. I picked up Hellmuths book in order to alos read about stud and omaha which I am interested in learning soon. I also picked up Caros book of poker tells. I don't believe much comes from this but any little bit will help. Suggestions would be welcome.

[Richie Rich]

Sounds like you're in a flat zone. A lot of us get there after playing hold 'em for a while, making a few tweaks to adjust our style, and consistently playing the same way for +EV. But if you're winning, then what's the problem? Just like when you start dating someone, everything is new and exciting. After a while, though, it all seems mundane. Same difference.

Perhaps you should watch the online play at some higher limits and see how others' play their cards. You might learn something new...

[onegymrat]

Hi Smackdown,

Read Killer Poker by John Vorhaus. It's very entertaining and will definitely make you think about your game. Good luck.

[pudley4]

[ QUOTE ]
I feel as though i am a decent player, but would like to get better

[/ QUOTE ]

If you don't have long-term stats to back up this "feeling", it's unlikely you are a winning player.

[LetsRock]

If you feel there is room for improvement in your game (there is for almost every poker player in the world!) then you need to identify exactly what things you don't do well.

Your broad statement makes it hard for real constructive advice.

Are you unhappy with:
-the way you play certain hands?
-being to loose or too tight?
-your level of aggresiveness?
-your hand reading skills?
-your awarenss and application of odds?
-etc

Once you've determined exaclty what part of your game to work on, you can use the proper tools and practice to hone that area.

[SpiderMnkE]

Are you staying in the same game. Cuz if you are bored playing 100/200 somewhere then I have nothing to say. But, if you are at .5/1 then build a roll and bump up a level.

Everytime you bump up a level you will quickly realize that you have something new to learn. Identifying it may be a problem, but beating the same game the same way isn't getting you anywhere.

[SpiderMnkE]

Do you have a goal? Try setting a goal, like beating the game for 15 BB/100 for 10,000 hands. I'm still working on this one.. hahahaha!!!

But yeah, if you have a goal you want to achieve.. then digging for little ways to squeeze out extra big bets becomes very necessary.

[Mano]

If you are looking for further reading suggestions, I would strongly recommend Middle Limit Holdem and Improve Your Poker both by Bob Ciaffone for your Holdem game. Also High Low Split Poker by Ray Zee for H/L Stud 8 and Omaha 8 and Omaha Holdem Poker: The Action Game by Ciaffone for the different forms of Omaha High.

[SoBeDude]

What limit are you currently bored with?

[auntieklava]

start playing shorthanded, you will be playing a lot of marginal hands, and learning to play these well should do wonders for your game. and it's a barrel of laughs too...

[Sheriff Fatman]

Have you thought about playing limit SnG's in preference to ring games for a while?

I've found it to be great experience as the table dynamics are constantly changing. It's also a relatively cheap way to get regular practice playing short-handed and heads-up, which you'll get very little experience of playing ring games.