To My Fellow ML'ers

[davelin]

Hello all. There's been a lot of posts and newer players coming through who are asking all sorts of advice which I think is great and all because I was in that camp only like 8 months ago. But I'll let you guys in on something. No good poker player just got good by spending a lot of time posting hands and following the advice in a rote-like way. All good poker players got there because they spent a lot of time THINKING about poker.

We all know about what they say about giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish (ironic given the game but anyways). To all my new friends here, we want to teach you how to fish, not just give you fish. Posting hands and just reading the advice for it's own sake --> giving fish. Reading other hands and advice and thinking about the game on your own --> teaching you how to fish. And I think every single person here wants to be taught how to fish. So to newer players, if you're serious about this game, please read and think deeply about this game.

But we veterans have a responsibility too. I admit sometimes I fall into the "Raise pre-flop, call flop, fold turn" line of advice-giving which doesn't help anyone. So if I'm going to implore you guys to think about the game, then I need to do my part and help teach you how to fish. So I'll do my best to explain my thinking and not give just rote one-liners.

There has been a lot of discussion and post on how to improve this board and I think this is the simplest way, by escalating everyone's skill about the game as effective as possible. And the most effective way to do this is for newer players to think about the game and for veterans to show you their thinking.