7 replies to this topic

[The Duke]

I ama relatively new player of no limit hold 'em...my friends and I play every so oftern, and I have experienced little sucess in our tournament style home games. My main problems are a lack of patience, and a poor ability to read others.Any recommendations for improvement?

[Smasharoo]

Be more patient and learn to read people.

[The Duke]

How do you suggest that I go about learning those things? That is what I was asking. Never been good at reading people! YOu'd think I would be though, being that I am a teacher.

[Smasharoo]

Ok, if you're serious, I'll give you some advice.On the patience thing, remeber this clever little phrase. Meditate on it, learn it, love it, make it a mantra, tatoo it on your eyelids if you have to.NL HOLDEM IS ABOUT WINNING *******MONEY******* NOT WINNING POTSThat's really the thing that will make you more patient. The guy who wins the most pots ussually ends up broke. In terms of reads, put $50 into an online site with microlimit NL games where you can buy in for $1 50 times and play a few thousand hands and get a feel for common betting patterns for hands. This will help you a lot more with reads than worrying about "reading people" yet.Worry about that after. Most of reading hands in NL is thinking "Would he really have bet 93o like that??" not "His left eye twitched, he's got aces!!"

[The Duke]

Thanks for the advice, Smasharoo! It is much appreciated. I like the idea of putting the money in an online site, and taking the emphasis off of facial expressions....i.e. "HIs eye twitched....".I will be sure to give online poker a try, and to keep plugging away!

[DiverDown4]

Dont read people phsyically, learn to read betting patterns. buy a great beginner book by Hellmuth, "play poker like the pros"............Good Luck, James

[wrto4556]

DiverDown4 said:

Dont read people phsyically, learn to read betting patterns. buy a great beginner book by Hellmuth, "play poker like the pros"............Good Luck, James

No way!!! Don't recommend that garbage. :-) Get something by sklansky, read it like a text book, and study, study, study. "Theory of poker"<--------Try that one.

[Tiburon41]

Theory is a fantastic book. Not geared specifically toward NLHE, but will teach you a great deal. Another great book by Sklansky is No Limit for Advanced Players. Don't let the title fool you. It's not a bad beginners book, either, but reading Theory will help you with that one.Playing online is actually a great way to learn to read betting patterns. You're playing basically blindfolded. No physical tells, no voice inflection, just HOW the player bets and the speed at which he/she makes his decisions. I personally am still learning. I can't put someone on their exact hole cards (a la Hellmuth and Danny), but I can usually figure out the juicy part, just by how they bet. Good luck--the best way to learn to read players is to play. And remember, the hand isn't over when you fold--your education is just beginning.