6 replies to this topic

[ldudeus]

I rescently purchased Theory of Poker by Sklansky and read it.It is a great book with tons of usefull information...but for some reason i cant seem to apply the concepts that i learned in it when i am acttually playing.I remember everything that was written but when a particular situation arrises, i never use any of the information that i used.i dont put an oponent on a hand, i dont calculate the odds that he has a certain ahnd, i dont calculate odds to call a bluff...etc.it is horrible because i know how to do all of these things but whenever i actually begin to play....i seem to forget/never use any of them.Can anyone please give me any advise on what i should do to actually use the information that i have read. I am really mad that i have learne dall of these usefull concepts but i never use them :cry: :oops: :oops: :cry: :!: :!: :!: :!: any advise from anyone on how to actually apply book concepts to games would be greatly appreciatedthanks to everyone in advance.

[Suited_Up]

I dunno, put a note by the computer....COUNT ODDS DUMBASS! Something like that.... or Practice... it makes perfect.Here's some rules...1. Learn rules2. Apply3. Rinse and repeat.

[Deepkoncntrtion]

Practice the concepts using play money....after I read that book I played on Pokerroom, I bumped $1000 in play money up to $220 000 in 5 days....altho I did hit alot of lucky hands.....the biggest pot was $60 000 at the 500 1000 limit table. Anyway, u'll save a lot of money learning to apply the concepts using play money. The downside is that ppl don't play correctly when play money is involved....but w/ the practice ur calculations should become second nature, as well, ur instincts will become more efficient.Start utilizing the proper starting hands for position, when u move up to higher limits, position becomes a major factor. U can also practice aggressive play, inducing bluffs....mix it up to keep it fun. Don't worry about doing evrything in the book all at once, it takes an extreme amount of dedication and practice to become an efficient player, however once ur training is complete, the benefits certainly outweigh ur initial investment.Now I play 15-30 and the profits have significantly increased my stock portfolio. Look ur prolly gonna play poker for a very long-time, so its best to put in the effort now and learn the proper way so u can reap the benefits in the future.

[Leedspokerguru]

Theres alot of info to digest in that book. It'll just take some time for certain ideas to sink in, in a way that you'll get a ureka momnet about something and start applying at the card table.

[JaysonWeber]

It really just takes time... I'm fortunate that I didn't read Theory of Poker until after I had a "semi" grasp on every concept in the book, I think picking this book up one or two more times will be beneficial to you. Start by memorizing the easiest and most frequent types of problems with pot odds, Flush and Straight draws post flop for example, this will give you a core understanding before delving any further.If you'd like I could post a sample hand that would be easy to follow using pot odds.

[SorryFugu]

Assuming you're going to keep playing whether you've mastered all the material or not, begin to concentrate on applying the lessons you've picked up ONE AT A TIME.You say you've read through TOP. Good! You're ahead of way more than 9/10 players at your level of play (whatever that is). But reading isn't study. To get something out of it, you have to STUDY it. Meaning (1) read it, (2) re-read it slowly, one-section-at-a-time, (3) apply it.Before your next long session, re-read a section -- ONE SECTION -- you'd like to work on. Read it closely, commit important facts to memory. Highlight it if you need. Take notes. Make a cheat sheet. Whatever. Then, when you play next, play your usual game, as you think it's best to play it, but with the added benefit of knowing this one, single new concept cold. Play for a long time. Play at a level where you don't get all win-loss results oriented. Play with your only goal being to play till this new concept comes to you as easily and naturally as playing the right starting hands. Play till you know it cold. If you're not sure how to apply it at some point, (1) go back and re-read AGAIN, and (2) post some specific hand questions in the forums, here or at one of the other respected sites. Don't just post the hand, though. Post it with the header, "Trying to effectively..." whatever...("use pot and implied odds," "semi-bluff," "protect my hand,"). "Help me learn."You'll get two or three idiots who respond by telling you they learned that stuff in kindergarten (ignore them), and a handful of responses that you should find very helpful.Once you get that small part of your game fixed, and ONLY when you get that small part of your game fixed, move on to the next lesson you want to employ, and do exactly the same thing. Every time you start a new section, you'll have another poker weapon permanently embedded in your arsenal.If it sounds like slow going, it is. That's the way effective learning works. Good poker isn't something you can just sit down and do right away, it's a skill to be learned. But keep at it, one section at a time, and within a few months, you'll see marked and permanent improvement.Good luck.

[Awful]

OK, some things to do to get this stuff down.1. Study the book like you have a final on it. The final will consist of hands and action and you have to fit in the appropriate concepts, and from those concepts the decision. Hell, take out some hand histories, print them, delete the showdown results, and give yourself such a "final"2. In actual play, SLOW DOWN. I always have to fight the urge to make reflexive plays before giving it the thought that such decisions require. In fact, I just wasted aces by slamming the raise button with no sensitivity to the board or the opponent and missed 2 big bets, most likely (though I might have opened the door to losing the pot. Another discussion, but I missed a profitable play throught reflexive and programmed reaction. Stop, think, and don't let yourself play by reflex. Not good.3. The reminder is a good idea if you play online. Just put a post it note saying: Stop. Think. Then make the play. or something like that up to keep you in the proper mindset.4. All of Sklansky's other poker books are really adaptations of base TOP concepts into specific games. When doing extra reading, try to link every section in the next book with its underlying TOP concept, another way to keep Theory in the front of your mind as you approach poker.Good luck; Theory is BY FAR the most useful book I've ever read and the most positive influence on my play. Harrington on Holdem, the Super/Systems, they're good, but Theory is the king. I can't say enough good things about it. But don't tell anyone else about it :-)