Educating other players and HOH II - Page 2

d1sterbd · #11 06-27-2005, 02:45 PM

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Well, these guys are my opponents and my friends. I don't really hang out with them outside of poker, but they're good guys. I guess it won't hurt to have a little better competition.

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If you don't hang out with them outside of poker then they probably aren't your friends. I wouldn't lie to them about the fact that I am a serious and educated player, but I wouldn't spoon feed these guys information.

I would think about giving one of them information only if I thought that person was going to develop into a player that could give information back to me down the road. If they aren't willing to buy a book than you can forget about that happening.

ncskiier · #12 06-27-2005, 03:18 PM

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If you don't hang out with them outside of poker then they probably aren't your friends. I wouldn't lie to them about the fact that I am a serious and educated player, but I wouldn't spoon feed these guys information.

I would think about giving one of them information only if I thought that person was going to develop into a player that could give information back to me down the road. If they aren't willing to buy a book than you can forget about that happening.

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My thoughts exactly. I especially like the second part.

Sean D · #13 06-27-2005, 04:08 PM

Just because I don't hang out with them outside of poker doesn't mean they aren't my friends. Most of them are either younger (18-19) or older (28-40) so our social activities would differ I guess. We talk with each other during poker about the play of hands and it is nice to have someone to talk with. I'm not gonna spoon-feed these guys information. If I'm done with a book and I'm not gonna re-read it for a while, then I don't mind letting them borrow it. I understand what you guys are saying, though. The money isn't a huge deal to me, and it could make me a stronger player. But from now on, I'll let them approach me and ask to borrow books rather than mentioning to them that I bought new books.

GoSharks · #14 06-28-2005, 01:00 AM

I had a chuckle after reading Dan Mezick's comment a few replies ago, since he hit on exactly the thing that I did. Anyone who is serious enough about learning how to play well to borrow a book, but not serious enough to invest the money, time, and energy in the pursuit is a tremendous danger at the poker table. A danger to himself, of course.

Let's put ourselves in the head of one of these guys. How many readings and rereadings, moments of reflection, etc, does it take to truly understand some of the white meat presented in some of the more in-depth books? Does a single read-through, or even a second read truly make a player better? I honestly think the opposite is true. A player who borrows a book, or ten, will inevitably fall into an unpleasant place with regard to his play, he'll make fancy plays based on a slight understanding of some of the more difficult situations. He may have some understanding of the 'what' in a situation, but will be completely deficient when forced to confront the 'why' behind the decisions he will soon be making. Overall, this will lead a person into making horrid decisions, all due to some vague recollection of pot odds, equity, implied odds, relative position, etc. Lending these books will probably hurt these players.

If you truly want them to improve to give yourself a better challenge, encourage them to buy these books and earnestly study them, not to learn what to do in a given situation, but to learn the underlying reasons behind good decision-making.

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing" yeah, stress the word little.

He shoots, he SCOR. . . err, wrong game

Felipe · #15 07-12-2005, 07:30 PM

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at the same time you should tell these guys to buy their own books!

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ya

Lottery Larry · #16 07-12-2005, 08:02 PM

Let them borrow it. The more they know, the more serious/dedicated and therefore REGULAR players they become. That will keep you pushing to improve as well.

SamIAm · #17 07-12-2005, 09:53 PM

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Lending these books will probably hurt these players.

[/ QUOTE ]This is wrong, and it's not even close.

The first time I read SSH, it changed my game DRAMATICALLY. (and for the better) Hell, the first book I read, WLLH, changed me remarkably, and, again, for the better.

Suggesting that these guys simply aren't able to understand the books is a little condescending. The idea that being given a good book can hurt your game is absurd.
-Sam

Matador225 · #18 07-12-2005, 11:34 PM

I also side with letting them borrow it. It will probably improve their level of play but not to the point where your chances of making the money are seriously hurt.

Hold'me · #19 07-13-2005, 12:13 AM

I guess it all comes down to how well they will be able to absorb all of the information contained in a book like HOH Volume 2. Still if I consider them friends, I don't see any problems in recommending or letting them borrow some of my poker literature. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Sean D · #20 07-13-2005, 12:26 AM

I've still been lending the books out. If they get better because of my help, then good. Hopefully soon I'll be able to talk in depth with these guys about certain plays and get their feedback. I'd like to take my game to the next level, and I really can only do that with good competition. Beating on the fish is easy, beating good players makes me feel good.