Puzzles/games to assist in improving poker skill?

[bkholdem]

Anyone out there with good insight on this? I'm wondering about mental/psychological 'cross training'. What would be some good games/puzzles, etc. to do/practice with and why?

I.E. crossword puzzles, rubix cube type puzzles, chess, etc.

I'm wondering if it is more +EV to study/practice with some of those things as opposed to only studing poker. Thoughts?

[YoungOne]

I once read that watching grass grows helps (meaning patience) Just a new player and haven't tried it though. I might in the future, if i turn out to be a losing player. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[krimson]

I don't have insight on this, but I would imagine that speed chess will help you make quick logical decisions and that RTS games will help with multi-tasking awareness. Both skills helpful for multi-tabling.

[Dan Mezick]

Trading. Trading systems development.

Virtual Trading Competitions.
http://game.marketwatch.com/Competit...titionHome.asp

[kyleb]

Reading books that have no relevance to your game of choice is always a good idea. It broadens your horizons and you might reflect on something in that game that helps your specific game you like to play.

For example, reading Ray Zee's High/Low Split Poker really improved my NLHE game through the discussion of odds and drawing hands.

[Spaded]

[ QUOTE ]
For example, reading Ray Zee's High/Low Split Poker really improved my NLHE game through the discussion of odds and drawing hands.

[/ QUOTE ]

But don't just read a book on hi/lo if you want to improve your holdem game! Theory of Poker is broad enough [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[neorab]

[ QUOTE ]
Reading books that have no relevance to your game of choice is always a good idea. It broadens your horizons and you might reflect on something in that game that helps your specific game you like to play.

For example, reading Ray Zee's High/Low Split Poker really improved my NLHE game through the discussion of odds and drawing hands.

[/ QUOTE ]

I take that even further, I find that reading a novel between readings of poker books to help keep my mind sharp, even that it does nothing poker spacific. On the other hand, maybe I just do it to get my mind off poker once in a while... now I'm not so sure.

[warlockjd]

[ QUOTE ]
reading a novel between readings of poker books to help keep my mind sharp

[/ QUOTE ]

I find this funny because I read novels when I DON'T feel like thinking at all. Kind of like watching TV for me. Then again, I grew up without a TV, but I digress....

Speed chess makes the most sense to me. Perhaps multitabling yahoo speed chess games would be good practice, especially for multitabling...

[z80x86]

Multitabling speed chess?! Damn, I've played plenty of competitive chess in the past and don't think I could handle that.

Computer programming is a good mental exercise that'll keep you sharp. Entertaining also.

[PhatMango]

As an International Chess Master, I would think that less than 0.5% of tournament players would be capable of playing even remotely reasonable five-minute chess over more than two boards. I doubt I could do more than three and still play any better than randomly.

If you want to hone your fast twitch muscles and instantaneous pattern recognition, I would suggest bullet chess:

1 sec/move

or

1 min/game.

Just don't overdo it, it is very fatiguing.

Hope this helps.