I have been a serious student of the game for a long time. I've worked hard to become a better player over the years by reading, studying, playing, analyzing hands and discussing strategy with other players whose games I respect. I'm sure that many of you reading this column can claim the same dedication to purpose. I also believe that I'll never stop learning about poker or life for that matter. Can you also make that claim? I hope so, because the moment you think you know it all, you're lost.
When I decided to really take poker seriously and become a winning player, I didn't realize what a long journey it would be. Looking back and remembering the limited level of skill and depth (or lack thereof) of understanding you once possessed can be fun.
Can you remember how weak a player you once were? Do you now see other players make errors that you once made but don't anymore? If you can't recognize how far you've come relative to your increased knowledge and skill then maybe-just maybe-you really haven't progressed, at least to the degree that your ego will allow you to acknowledge. The simple way to appreciate your journey is to be able to identify errors you used to make, and now you observe your opponents making these same mistakes. This is an important aspect of clocking the game to evaluate whether you should be playing in it or not. If you can't identify errors from a few of your opponents then you may be in the wrong game - either that or you don't possess the ability to identify and therefore target opponents' frailties. Either way, you're an odds-on favorite to be a donator.
The flip side of searching out those weaknesses in your opponents that you once were guilty of is to identify a good, competent player from whom you just might learn. Yeah, stick your ego in your mess kit and acknowledge that there is always something new to learn. This is another reason it is critical to clock the table and learn your opponents' tendencies.
Paying close attention to your opponents yields three things. One, it gives you the ability to target identified weaker foes. Two, it allows you to avoid and not engage identified superior foes. Three, and this is a nice bonus, you may wish to take notes and learn from those you consider to be formidable rivals.
So, looking back can be rewarding to those who can honestly see the progress they have made in understanding the finer nuances of the game by identifying the errors they once made that are committed by their opponents.
It should also be an eye-opener if you can not identify mistakes. You're either in too tough a game or don't possess the understanding of the game you would like to think you do. You should constantly study your opponents and take advantage of identified weaknesses while learning from stronger and more knowledgeable players. Remember, if you're not moving forward on the knowledge/skill curve, you're moving backwards. Backward movement is not healthy for your bankroll.
See you next "TIME"
