Texas hold 'em poker is similar to many games in the sense that the basic rules and procedures governing its play are fairly simple to learn. This enables neophytes to be able to actually play the game quickly. I said, "quickly"... not well.

Mike Sexton, professional poker player and co-host of the World Poker Tour, is fond of describing hold 'em as a card game that "takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master." While true, a conundrum exists because there are many who don't recognize the complexities that exist. Their blindness to the game's depth is a very positive feature for all the players who work hard to improve their understanding of the necessary strategic concepts that lead to success.

We all know that a newbie can get a crash course from a friend, sit down in a game with seasoned players, get hit in the head with the deck and finish his very first session a winner. It just doesn't seem fair... does it? Well, the next time you have one of those newbies come into your game and take away some profit, don't complain that it isn't fair. It's one of the appeals of the game that make it so popular. That newbie may well have embarked on a life long love affair with hold 'em and he doesn't really know how to play... at least not too well.

After their first session or two neophytes tend to do one of three things if they continue to play the game. One reaction to an early win is the instant belief that a group of opponents are easily beaten and the game is as simple as first explained. These players don't put forth any effort to improve their skills in order to become more competitive. As a result, they usually become lifetime losers. The second group may have been spanked in their initial session or two and decide that hold 'em or poker in general just isn't for them and look elsewhere for adrenalin boosts. The third group is made up of players who, whether they won or lost in their first couple of sessions, realize that the more they learn about the game, the more there is to learn. They embark on a never ending quest to become more knowledgeable and savvy about the game. I'm betting, or at least hoping, that since you're reading Poker Player Newspaper, you are in this third group.

Of these three groups, we really only care about two since one of them consists of former players. The third group, focused on continuous improvement, are the formidable foes you encounter that require you to raise your thinking a couple of levels. The group that met with early success but does not make a conscious effort to improve will grow to a certain level of expertise through playing experience at the table. They may even have an innate card sense that helps make them decent competitors. But much of what they learn is wrong because they are relying on confirmation bias that can skew their thinking. An example would be proceeding in a hand without correct pot odds, such as an inside straight draw, making it and winning a handsome pot. If they accomplish this against the odds a couple of times, drawing with negative EV becomes their default play.

The good news is that this third group, which we'll dub, the "fly by the seat of their pants" group, is huge. Our goal for today is quite simple... make sure you are in the proper group. Continue to invest the time and effort necessary for continued improvement to your game.

See you next "TIME"

Tom "Time" Leonard has played poker in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and California for more than 30 years and written about the game since 1994. Contact Tom at thleonard@msn.com.