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Your Best Game
Overview
While this is hard at first, advanced players must figure
out which game they play best and why. Different games and different betting
structures require different skills. Since winning at poker means having a
higher level of skill in certain areas, a true winner should know why he is
winning in order to maximize his advantage over his opponents.
I cannot tell you which game you will be best at, but I've
noticed some trends. Winning poker players have mastered the Four Key Skills of
poker. Furthermore, they also have an advantage with the technical and/or people
aspects of poker. The technical aspects refer to taking advantage of poker
'math,' such as mastering pot odds and playing tight. The people aspects refer
to skills such as bluffing and varying your style of play. Here is what I
believe certain games reward the most:
Limit Hold'em rewards technical skills, especially patience
and an understanding of hand value. Since many hands go to a showdown, reading
one's opponent only helps so much because it is harder to bluff and pot odds
will often make a river fold highly risky.
Shorthand requires a mix of people and technical skills.
People skills are important at analyzing a shorthanded game. You must understand
your players and figure out which type of game to play. Often, a very aggressive
form is best. However, in a loose game, you should revert to standard poker
strategy. Thus, once you analyzed the game using people skills, technical skills
will be rewarded because one type of 'technique' should be employed to beat the
game.
No-Limit Hold'em also requires both technical proficiency
and people skills. Technical skills will help you understand how much you should
bet and how much you can tolerate to call. People skills will help you in a hand
(by putting an opponent on his cards) and determine your general strategy.
No-Limit Hold'em fundamentally comes down to how people utilize aggressive
betting. If people are meek, steal a lot of pots but fold if stern resistance
comes to your bluffing. If people are being very loose, be patient and trap
them. You should often be able to wipe them out in one hand.
So...Which One for Me?
As you can see,
poker is about technical and player proficiency. If you are very good at
remaining patient, playing quality hands, and playing pot odds, stick to Limit
Hold'em. If you excel at poker because you know how to deal with opponents, you
want to be in a shorthand or No-Limit game. |
