There is no definitive "correct" way to play poker.
Read a dozen different instructional poker books, and you are likely to find as many differing ideas on how to play those questionable hands. Poker guidance from Doyle Brunson is markedly different from that of Phil Hellmuth; both have contrasts to Dan Harrington, which is nowhere similar to .... You get the idea.
It leads many inexperienced players to a point of frustration and confusion. As we attempt to pour ourselves into reading we find ideas in some books and magazine articles are oppositional to each other.
We wonder which expert we should listen to. There are poker authors without great playing resumes, but who write excellent books and articles with seemingly sound advice. On the other hand, there are poker world champions that have written flimsy information. It simply is not easy to know where to turn.
Euripides stated, "Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom." It is within our nature to automatically assume that those who have met success are undeniably filled with wisdom and insightful information. We can witness this on even the home-game level. The guy who seems to win the most cash in your regular homegame will be asked questions such as, "Bob, I had bottom pair and a flush draw. How should've I played that on the Turn?"
The "King of the homegame" will usually wear a wry smile as he dispenses his pearl of wisdom. The assumption is that because he has a pattern of winning, he has more wisdom than you.
Imitation is often the natural consequence. We look up to poker players that we witness winning, and we try our best to follow that lead. We try to play like them. We try to think like them.
I can recall more than 20 years ago heading to Baltimore's Memorial Stadium to watch a young Cal Ripken Jr. play baseball. A Little League player myself, I inspected every single aspect of Cal's game. I spent hours in a batting cage practicing the same goofy batting stance that Cal employed at the plate. The bat flopped around in my hands. My balance was way off. Trying to mimic Cal was not a successful venture.
Similarly, I had the chance to get some real-life poker instruction from Antonio "the Magician" Esfandiari last year.
Antonio is one of the most hyper-aggressive tournament players on the planet.
He talked about relentless pressure, and believes that a player should either bust out in the first few levels of a tournament or be the chip leader at the final table.
While I respect his game and his accomplishments, I knew that his advice would not fit into my mindset and style of play.
It is often true that those who've achieved great things often do have great knowledge on a given subject.
Passively absorbing information is more harmful than taking on no new information at all.
The key is become a savvy and insightful consumer of wisdom. Think thoroughly about the source of information. Determine whether the information is in line with your beliefs, your style, and your abilities. Extract the bits that best fit you and are most beneficial. Keep notebooks on the gems that you believe can help you climb the poker ladder. Be wary of assuming that everything you hear or read is right for you. Be the best advocate for yourself. Now go make it happen.
John Carlisle is a National Certified Counselor with a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's of Psychology from Lock Haven University. Find out more by emailing him at pokercounselor@yahoo.com
