Becoming a better player....

As I'm fairly new to Holdem Poker, I was wondering what the one most important thing was that helped you to become a better player. Was it just practice, or a book, or a peice of advise from someone, or even a lucky charm of some sort (lol)? Just wondering if you could point to one thing that helped you drastically improve your game, especially when you were just getting started.

I like to just find a strategy that works well and go with it for a while.

I agree with Homeville. Patience is #1 quality. Unless you have the natural skill to read hands and play a hyper-aggressive style, you have to play quality hands.

Best thing you can do to start off is read Doyle Brunson's Supersystem. It will give you the basics and a good foundation. Then its practice alot (oh darn)....just like any other activity. I also highly recommend Dan Harrington's books after you have played a bit.

Word of caution: Supersystem is geared mostly to ring game play (in my opinion), so you'll have to adjust a bit if you plan on playing mostly tournaments.

Good luck,

TZB

Learn when to bluf. You can't wait for the good cards so you have to bluf. Not just bluf to bluf but at exactly at the right time. Timing is everything.

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That's Poker

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Proud member of the Woo Hoo crew with: Az Viking, Boiler, and The Zombills

"If it were me I'd bet everything...But that's me -- I'm an aggressive gambler; Mr. Vegas" -- Dewey Oxberger

DONK-the player who just took your chips -- xtra

as you will now be an "Accomplished Donk" -- SonnyChiba

Number of Royal Flushes: 2 -- Poker Room, Pokerstars

practice is key but do some reading as well it can save you making many mistakes that might take you a while to learn your self

as for the best thing - study your hand histories - particularly key hands

Patience... someone once asked me how I could play multiple games at one time - my reply: it's pretty easy since the majority of the time I'm folding!!

When you have a tight table image you can steal some pots - just be aware that you will get caught occasionally I played a tourney last night that I only got a pocket pair once before the final table, yet I still came in fifth. You have to look for the opportunities to increase your chip stack and not let the blinds eat you up.

Patience, practice and of course a little luck If you are in a tourney where they keep moving you it becomes very difficult to build your table image... so you can pray!!

I think the hardest thing for me was Learning patience and is.
Folding a good hand is another hard-won for me. You know somebody's chasing a flush and they catch it.

Great advice there my friend

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The views of Mattastic do not necessarily reflect the views of THF