Erik Seidel
February 20, 2006
These days, it seems like you can't walk through a
bookstore without tripping over a poker strategy book.
How do you play A-K in early position short-handed?
Should you raise with suited connectors on the button
after the big stack smooth calls? When is it right to
slow play pocket aces?There are now dozens of books
written by expert poker players that will answer all of
those questions. I've seen entire chapters devoted to
playing certain hands in particular circumstances. And
while it's useful to understand why these authors make
the suggestions they do, it's more important to realize
that all of these questions have the same answer:
It depends.
Poker is a game of infinite complexity. Players like
Chris Ferguson can calculate the odds of almost any
situation, but there are no hard, fast rules for how to
play a specific hand. The math matters, but if you want
to take your game to the next level, you need to start
working on three things: Creativity, imagination, and
flexibility.
There are many successful styles that work in poker.
From the seemingly reckless manner of Gus Hanson (there
is a method to his apparent madness), to the tightly
disciplined systems of David Skalansky, your goal should
be to experiment with different ways of playing. Once
you've started doing that, you need to figure out which
style will work best for you and the situation at hand.
If the game is too loose, it's often right to play
fewer cards. If the table is a rock garden, you can
sometimes get away with bluffing more. The key is not to
be stuck to some plan that is "always right," but to
redefine yourself in each given situation.
Learning how to adjust your play takes practice.
Shorthanded play is a great opportunity to test your
creativity because you have more decisions to make. You
can also invest time playing single table sit & gos,
where the increasing blinds force you to play more hands
against your opponents.
Imagination is at the heart of the game. Just as
there is no right way to write a song or paint a
picture, there is no right way to play poker. The best
players are experimenting and adjusting all the time.
The beauty of the game lies in this ever-shifting
landscape, and it keeps us interested each time we sit
down.
Erik Seidel
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