How do you learn/improve your game?

I've played poker for a good few years now and was brought up on the game as a youngster.  Its only in the last five or six years I've played online poker.  This is a totally different ballgame!

So how did I improve my game and become a reasonable player who is capable of winning/placing in large multi table tournaments and sitngos ?

I started off at sites with lots of freerolls and good play money tables.  Play as many games as you can for free - this is the best way to learn the game if you are what is termed a "noob"  Try and play sitngos first - this is the best learning ground you can find.  Start with the 6 seater and once you have mastered them, move onto the 10 seater tables.  Use play money at first - once you start to build a play money bankroll you will know your game is improving.  I built up a huge bankroll on one site and decided it was time to play for real.  I deposited $30 and through freerolls and lots of sitngos, I withdrew $500 within a couple of months. 

With freerolls, I found that by playing tight and just the good hands you can at least win a few pots however its not just about the hands that you hold its about playing the player and betting and understanding the way other players "play".  This part of your learning will come at a much later stage unless you are a natural. 

I have found the best way to learn about a player is to make notes on them if the facility is available at the site you are playing at.  Make a note of the kind of hands they raise with and their betting style.  It really does come in useful at a later stage in the game.

I do know players who keep spreadsheets on other players and update these spreadsheets regularly.  There are also a few sites out there where you can look up a player and find out information on them.  Knowing your opponents and how they play is half the battle.  There are also some sites where you can record your play statistics.  Quite useful to understand how you are doing and whether you are improving.

I have spoken from my experiences and I hope there are some hints or tips in this that will help your game or give you an idea on where to start if you are new to poker.

What hints and tips do you have??

Just because you got lucky once with 72 suited doesn't mean this is a good reason to always play it, in any position at any price. Don't think because you've seen some pro pull off a bluff with 23 suited you'll be able to do the same. Luck hands don't have some kind of odds defying qualities - They did just get lucky.

Just because you got lucky once with 72 suited doesn't mean this is a good reason to always play it, in any position at any price. Don't think because you've seen some pro pull off a bluff with 23 suited you'll be able to do the same. Luck hands don't have some kind of odds defying qualities - They did just get lucky.

Sound advice winthelottery.  All too often online players think they are "good" players because they get lucky with rubbish as poker sites seem to "favour" the fish.  In real life they would be out pretty quickly.  I watched a game on TV last night and the online player went all in with A7 suited and got called by a pro with AK suited.  Needless to say the online player got knocked out.  Its "online mentality".

blue

Hi Blue,

I think i learned through trial and error. I think my biggest teachers were the players themselves. Watching there moves and the responses from other players really was instrumental in learning the tricks of the trade.

And as always....patience patience patience is the key!

Lips