Help im not as good as i thought!

Step 1: Study
Step 2: Repeat Step 1

Welcome to FTR. Good luck.

I would say start out by reading literally all of the stickies in this forum (beginner's circle). Then work through the "Spoony Exercises" - or at least read through them if you''re not too sure how to proceed - and go from there.

Also I'd have to recommend the NLHE Theory & Practice threads... And, of course, reading the book itself if you haven't already.

Originally Posted by Penneywize

I would say start out by reading literally all of the stickies in this forum (beginner's circle).

also go to the relevant part of the forum for the game you play (e.g. fr/short handed/omaha/whatever) and read the digest and stickies there.

get in irc if you have any questions. Also, if you don't already have tracking software then find out about it (Holdem Manager and Poker Tracker 3 both have free trials).

you're here, you know the rules of poker, if you absorb the info here and ask good questions you shouldn't ever have to deposit money into online poker again.

[QUOTE=spoonitnow;1952427]Step 1: Study
Step 2: Repeat Step 1

Quality answer, made me smile.

Studying the game is vital to make progress. Do a google on texas poker strategy or something similar and you will be surprised at the number of sites with well written articles, just as an example. Read books and reread them.

I have a routine of studying (almost daily) soon after I have got out of bed. And I have a routine of playing (again almost daily) at a later time of day where I have found the game to be soft. Now although you may not have the same luxury of finding a soft time zone you should still be able to find a buy in level where you should be able to have a decent roi eg I would suggest $5 sng on FT - the $2 really is an idiot level where players have no concept of the game.

As said above build yourself a decent number of buy ins, then when you feel comfortable at the buy in you are playing start your session at that level. If you cash (preferrably if you win) then step up to the next buy in level. If you cash at the higher level repeat the exercise. If you don't cash step down again and try the exercise again in your next session. (You can even try several games at the higher level before stepping down if you have created enough buyins to stand the variance).

But part of your routine MUST be to apply yourself to studying the game in addition to playing the game.

[QUOTE=3 pairs should be a hand;1952924]

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

Step 1: Study
Step 2: Repeat Step 1

Quality answer, made me smile.

Studying the game is vital to make progress. Do a google on texas poker strategy or something similar and you will be surprised at the number of sites with well written articles, just as an example. Read books and reread them.

I have a routine of studying (almost daily) soon after I have got out of bed. And I have a routine of playing (again almost daily) at a later time of day where I have found the game to be soft. Now although you may not have the same luxury of finding a soft time zone you should still be able to find a buy in level where you should be able to have a decent roi eg I would suggest $5 sng on FT - the $2 really is an idiot level where players have no concept of the game.

As said above build yourself a decent number of buy ins, then when you feel comfortable at the buy in you are playing start your session at that level. If you cash (preferrably if you win) then step up to the next buy in level. If you cash at the higher level repeat the exercise. If you don't cash step down again and try the exercise again in your next session. (You can even try several games at the higher level before stepping down if you have created enough buyins to stand the variance).

But part of your routine MUST be to apply yourself to studying the game in addition to playing the game.

Funny, when I started and i googled that stuff i just kept getting the same, POSITION IS KEY, FLUSH DRAWS ARE WORTH LESS ON PAIRED BOARDS, EVERYONE AT THIS LEVEL SUCKS AT POKER SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN, etc. can you seriously get consistent well written articles day after day with the google search engine?

No I don't think you can get well written articles day after day but there are a plethora of good articles if you hone your search - bookmark the sites where you feel you are getting good info from your initial visit and then return sporadically to see if there are updates.

Study should be from a combination really - online, magazines (with strategy sections/articles on HH) and books eg Moshman.

Once you have a solid foundation from those three then come back here and post questions you have from what you have read. There are many many brilliant minds on this forum and this forum is DEFINITELY the best source for real time up-to-date advice - I certainly haven't found a bettter source (2+2 perhaps?? If ur on FT then their forum may also be worth a look, just like Q6o [joke] ).

For instance what Moshman posits is sometimes now out-of-date and further doesn't really account for the differences/nuances to the game as you play different levels of buyin. Eg he suggest when there is a HBL followed by a smooth (or 2nd limp) that you should shove (ie go all-in), not too sure if that play is +ev anymore.

Originally Posted by Imthenewfish

can you seriously get consistent well written articles day after day with the google search engine?

I originally found this site using Google, searching for articles on hold'em strategy! Seriously.

Originally Posted by NightGizmo

I originally found this site using Google, searching for articles on hold'em strategy! Seriously.

i found this site after google search to answer my question "what is a fish in poker terms?" cos i had been abused so often in table chat for being a fish but had no idea what was meant by it.