The Concept of Learning Poker part three

Following on from part two and it is imperative as you go through your poker school of learning be it self learning or from a coach or tutor that you understand how important it really is to find your own way in poker. I have mentioned this before and I will probably mention it several times further as I compile this book because in my mind this just underlines the importance of it.

I am writing this book not to tell you how to play cash games although many people will buy this book expecting to be told how to play cash games. This book will teach you an awful lot about cash game poker but that is not its primary objective. What I want to get across is not just how to play cash games but also what to focus on in order to become a winning player. I need to stress the importance of selecting your own path not just in life but in poker too.

Some players irrespective of how good they are or how much money they have will never play highstakes poker despite loving the game. For reasons that are too complex to go into, many people just are not cut out to play poker beyond certain levels. This is why it is sheer folly to assume that just because some player is now playing $300-$600 heads up no limit hold’em or Omaha on bwin Poker who started out playing $1-$2 and worked his way up, that you or anyone else can do the same.

It is important to read and study as much as you possibly can but it is also vital not to cut short that studying time. In essence you are putting yourself through a self imposed apprenticeship when you undertake to study poker. It is not like going to college or university, there are no tutors to guide you in what to learn and what not to learn and in what order. It is also important as well to revolutionise your game by using tracking software like Poker Office for example.

As a total novice setting out on your long road to expertise, you will read many books and articles and not be in a situation to have a counter opinion. This is normal simply because of your level of poker knowledge being so low.

You will basically have to accept what authors say on face value even though it may be wrong or out of date or whatever. But it is a bit like when you are growing up and the day dawns when you realise that the parents that you admire and love who you thought were always right about everything now suddenly appear to have flaws.

This is a part of our development that we reach at a certain age but it is a stage that cannot be rushed, it will simply happen with time…..evolution not revolution.

During my poker life, there have been countless situations where advice that I believed to be sound once upon a time suddenly appeared to be incorrect when I became aware enough to know the difference. The problem is that advice that can be good for one may not necessarily be good for someone else. Look out for part four coming soon.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson
Author – “Winning Cash Game Poker”