Knowing many styles, master of none

thedesbois · Knowing many styles, master of none

Hello,

I've followed Broker's course, learned it partially and applied it probably in a partially wrong manner. After being disappointed with the results, I tried a more aggressive approach in the Turbos. Obviously, again, I did not dig deep enough and learned this style properly.

I keep going from one style to another... and at this point I feel I'm going crazy and that no style will let me take off from break even.

I know this sounds silly as I can already answer my question: choose one style, the one you prefer and stick with it long enough. Smile

Then you might evolve and turn it into your own style.

I'm just constantly doubting the styles. Like I'll play a couple of matches limping & stabbing against a TP, only to realize he's now doing the same or donking a lot of flops. He has adjusted fast. And I'm talking about the low stakes. Obviously I should adjust to his adjustment but I don't know where to go since I've learned the style only in part. So I play dumb poker and end up flipping for the match.

My questions is two fold:

- has anyone experienced this inability to commit to a style? (Hey I have commitment issues all over my life, no wonder I'm single Smile

)
- is the small ball limping style still as good as it was or has the game evolved towards a more aggressive style? ( in reg speeds)

Many thanks and sorry if this post is a bit long winded.

U Cook Socks

I think you are over thinking all of this to be honest.

Poker isn't a one size fits all game anyway. There are various options pre flop, it's your post flop game you should be worrying about.

thedesbois

I reflected on what you said. What you are suggesting is that I'm bouncing between different pre flop ways of playing that are all valid approaches. And that I am missing the most important aspect: post flop play.

It does make a lot of sense since all I've read, watched and been coached into mention the importance of developing a read on the opponent and getting our edge post flop.

Your comment is an eye opener. Shocked

Any suggestions as to how I could work on my post flop game? Specific videos?

Many thanks!

U Cook Socks

Well if you have done the course, I presume you still have the videos from it ? There is enough information in there to get you winning in my opinion. Maybe follow it up by watching some of the videos off the site, to observe how Broker applies his theory's.

thedesbois

Yes I still have the videos and all related material, notes etc. Smile

Will have a look at them again with my focus on post flop. And then all the videos Broker has made available, live play, replayer, game reviews etc.

You're right, I think all the information is there. Many levels of information in them. Looking from a different perspective will certainly bring a lot.

Many thanks again.

Will let you know how it goes!

kolonel

why dont you record a session, and talk about the areas/spots you are not entirely happy with, and post it up in the forums. add some commentary, so that anyone watching it will see your line of thinking. you will be suprised how helpful this site is as a whole.

just a thought

alexfrans

Hello,

I read you post. I could have written the same. I am also constantly deciding how to play pre and post.
Should i use the small ball style or more the aggro preflop style. Like i see gosox83 do on sitngogrinders.

After i get the Account Validation Code on ps.fr i will start with brokers style and see where it gets me.

Broker is making money with this style, so someone else like me or you should also be making money with this. Borg en Kierk also started small balling i guess and see now where they are.

Let me know if you got things sorted out, maybe i can learn something out of it.

Good luck at the tables.
Alex

Simba

I think an important consideration which many people seem to miss is that Broker isn't advocating a passive style necessarily - from what I understand anyway, he simply likes to find out cheaply a the start of the match what his opponent is up to, getting some quick reads for not much expense, and then adapting. I seem to recall in one of his videos he mentioned this kind of point along with "Don't worry, if I get something good like AK early I'm not limping that!" Smile

thedesbois

kolonel: what a great idea. I was not aware I could post a link to a video. Thanks!

Alex: so I'm not alone out there. Wink

Good luck on Stars.fr We should keep in touch to see how we are doing with our goals.

Simba: haven't seen that video yet. Thanks for remind me. Smile

U Cook Socks

Brokerstar

I'm not really sure what to suggest really as you have already said that you haven't studied everything fully and are disappointed in the fact that you're not winning.

All of the study material is there for a reason and that is because it's a complete game plan not just do I limp and stab?

Just limp/ stabbing without consideration for anything else is a losing style.

Min raise/ c betting without consideration for anything else is a losing style.

3 x raising and c betting without consideration with anything else is a losing strategy.

Now we've cleared that up let's think about a few other points.

THE most important thing is to keep an eye on what your opponent is doing and then adjusting accordingly (which is all in the lessons of course).

You said a tight passive player gets fed up with you stabbing at pots then starts 'playing back at you' by donk betting etc So you need to establish what that means.

Has he done it once or twice? May of just picked up a couple of hands which obviously happens.

Is he now doing it nearly every hand? then use some of the more aggressive lesson adjustments.

Is the guy calling you down lighter than you'd expect a tight passive to do so? Then start following the call station post flop strategy (lesson 1 video covers those adjustments).

Maybe also think about your classification in the first place? Some guys make up their mind about a player in a few hands then refuse to think otherwise but from time to time players just start slow before coming out of their shell and showing you their true colors.

Winning poker is a huge subject which sadly is never going to be as simple as do A and B and print money (if it was then everyone would be rich).

It is beatable but as is always said and the reason that players that make it get so much respect is because it IS a lot of work on your part.

So to sum up I can't really recommend anything other than actually study what is already proven to be winning strategy so many times over and when you can honestly say with your hand on your heart that you have memorized everything then you'll likely see much better results.

Broker

thedesbois

Well said.

I'm notoriously bad at doing homework. I guess now is the time to switch gears or give up. I take poker as a personal challenge that forces me to improve myself away from the tables too. There is no cheating oneself in poker. No easy way.

Thanks for taking the time and giving me a detailed explanation!