The problem with advice

The problem with giving poker advice is that what may work generally, often doesn't work in specific situations.


In an earlier post I stated rather definitively that you should not limp in with strong hands, like big pairs. This is pretty sound advice, however there are times when even this law should be broken. If you have a maniac at the table who is raising every hand pre-flop, then go ahead and limp. Let the maniac raise you and then you can re-raise or just call depending on your read of the situation.

This is the beautiful and frustrating thing about poker - it is situational. You could be holding the exact same hole cards in the exact same position at two different tables, and the right thing to do at one table is to fold, and the right thing to do at the other table is to go all-in. So much depends on the way your opponents are playing, how confident you feel you read them, what you think they think of you...The list of things that can sway your decision at a specific moment are nearly infinite. It is dangerous to follow advice you have read on a poker blog when there is strong evidence you should do something else.

The problem is advice is always based on assumptions like your opponent is behaving somewhat rationally, and therefore her behaviour is somewhat predictable. If you raise pre-flop 10 times the big blind and some one calls you, you can assume that unless this person is an absolute nut, they have a great hand. The funny thing is that people do nutty things all the time.

Ironically, as I am writing this blog I am also playing a freeroll. A guy just went all in from early position with 10c 4d. I rest my case.

Does this mean that one should not bother reading poker books and blogs? No. Just bear in mind that all the good advice you get should be applied unless you have a strong reason to do differently in a certain situation. Ultimately your success or failure at the poker table will have to do with your read of each situation and each situation is different. However, your ability to read situation correctly will be enhanced by the studies you have done.

Still, you can read about poker all you want, but you will learn the most by playing the game. A lot. If you are not comfortable playing for money then don't, but try to find a game where your opponents are not complete screwballs. Play on-line tournaments; the "all-in-with-anything" fools usually get knocked out in the first hour, and after that you can get a taste of what real poker is like.

I hope this blog will not just be me spewing advice to you. I hope you will converse and challenge me. I hope you will share your own experiences with me. I would like to learn from you as much as I would like to help you.