The 10 Nevers....

[I Eat Gamblers]

Sometimes we forget the things that might effect our game in a negative way. This is more of a reminder for the regular players and info to the new ones. Of course these are just my opinion, if you think of others or disagree post it.

1) Never play drunk (or under other substances)

2)Never play tired (dozing off can be brutal to the BR)

3)Never start a tourney you can't end on your own (friends don't care, its not thier money)

4)Never show a hand you don't have to

5)Never use pre-action buttons (this can be used as a tell for others)

6)Never let chat effect your skill level (chatting can effect concentration)

7)Never play bigger than your bankroll allows (roughly 5% is good)

8)Never play against known superior foes (skill level is a big factor)

9)Never forget your playing with real money (many act like its play money)

10)NEVER GAMBLE MORE THAN YOU CAN STAND TO LOSE!!!!!!!

[powrdragn]

This is a strong list of nevers. And I have to say, there are very few things in life that I say NEVER to.

1. This makes sense, won't argue there.

2. This seems as obvious as the first one.

3. I have to disagree. I think it depends on who your friends are. I know of several people that have had others finisht ournaments for them that they started. I even knew of two roommates that would switch off as the tournament got toward the end sometimes. This was because onf ot hem was better at short handded and heads up play. Seems like a sound strategy with the right players involved.

4. I also disagree with this. Recently, I was in a live cash game where I was getting lots of respect. When I raised or reraised on the flop, I wasn't getting much resistance. So, I'd started working my strategy yhat way. A couple of hours in, I got on a heater: AA, AKs, AKh, QQ, KK, AJd, QQ. And I hit the flop solid on four of those. I think I only lost with the AKh. But, I could tell players were getting as a few more were starting to call preflop. I decided to show when I flopped a set twice and when I hit the J high flop with AJ. It helped keep up my image that I was playing only big hands (even though I wasn't).

5. I have to disagree here as well. Many times (especially at the lower limits), the average player online doesn't even think about those things. And some of the ones that do, have no idea what to make of it. Using preaction buttons almost seems required when you are multitabling (at least for me). And there are sometimes I plan to limp with a big pair just as I would with a small pair. If you change up your game and use the same actions/bets, its going to be hard for someone to figure out anyway. And in case you are deciding to fold, it saves you time and lets you focus on other windows where you have action hands.

6. This one I agree with. You can't let someone else's complaints or attitude put you on tilt. If anything, you should use that to your advantage.

7. This is another good rule of bankroll management. Whatever your bankrool plan is, stick with it.

8. Again, there are some things that can be learned from playing with good players. You definitely don't wan tto sit in a game FULL of superior players. And at the same time, you don't want to sit with superior players regularly. That's not where your money is going to come from. Every once in a while is fine. Just don't make a habit out of it. And don't dedicaet too much of your bankroll when doing it.

9. This is a pretty obvious one. You are definitely using real money...so play like it.

10. If you can't afford to lsoe the money it shouldn't be at the poker table to begin with.


Not a bad list. But, it's hard to have that many "nevers"

[ungarstu132]

Originally Posted by powrdragn This is a strong list of nevers. And I have to say, there are very few things in life that I say NEVER to. 1. This makes sense, won't argue there. 2. This seems as obvious as the first one. 3. I have to disagree. I think it depends on who your friends are. I know of several people that have had others finisht ournaments for them that they started. I even knew of two roommates that would switch off as the tournament got toward the end sometimes. This was because onf ot hem was better at short handded and heads up play. Seems like a sound strategy with the right players involved. 4. I also disagree with this. Recently, I was in a live cash game where I was getting lots of respect. When I raised or reraised on the flop, I wasn't getting much resistance. So, I'd started working my strategy yhat way. A couple of hours in, I got on a heater: AA, AKs, AKh, QQ, KK, AJd, QQ. And I hit the flop solid on four of those. I think I only lost with the AKh. But, I could tell players were getting as a few more were starting to call preflop. I decided to show when I flopped a set twice and when I hit the J high flop with AJ. It helped keep up my image that I was playing only big hands (even though I wasn't). 5. I have to disagree here as well. Many times (especially at the lower limits), the average player online doesn't even think about those things. And some of the ones that do, have no idea what to make of it. Using preaction buttons almost seems required when you are multitabling (at least for me). And there are sometimes I plan to limp with a big pair just as I would with a small pair. If you change up your game and use the same actions/bets, its going to be hard for someone to figure out anyway. And in case you are deciding to fold, it saves you time and lets you focus on other windows where you have action hands. 6. This one I agree with. You can't let someone else's complaints or attitude put you on tilt. If anything, you should use that to your advantage. 7. This is another good rule of bankroll management. Whatever your bankrool plan is, stick with it. 8. Again, there are some things that can be learned from playing with good players. You definitely don't wan tto sit in a game FULL of superior players. And at the same time, you don't want to sit with superior players regularly. That's not where your money is going to come from. Every once in a while is fine. Just don't make a habit out of it. And don't dedicaet too much of your bankroll when doing it. 9. This is a pretty obvious one. You are definitely using real money...so play like it. 10. If you can't afford to lsoe the money it shouldn't be at the poker table to begin with. Not a bad list. But, it's hard to have that many "nevers"

this is an attempt to make it to the thread of the week tourney...."i eat" try not to make it so obvious next time, half your list is made up things....lol

[powrdragn]

ungarstu132, what the heck are you talking about.

1. I rarely have to time to play in the thread of the week tournies (even though a nomination would be nice).

2. This isn't my thread.

3. All the things I commented on were statements from the first post.

[liladypokerpro]

Agreed. Why is it that anytime someone posts a useful opinion or thread, it is automatically assumed that they are after a ptotw nomination? That's a bit silly...it's a discussion forum...if there were no discussions, then there would be no forum.

As for the OPT, the only one I think I'd disagree with most would be not to show cards if you don't have to. I've made a pretty good strategy using this method. Granted, over-use can get you stuck in a bad situation, or one in which you can't get any callers, and thus make small pots, but if used correctly at the right times, you can totally confuse your opponents and pretty much clean them out with your monster hands.

Since players cannot see each other online, other means of solidifying your table image are needed. Conversely, you can just as easily show a bluff once and throw all that down the drain...in the opponent's mind...so the next time you have them dominated, they'll be more inclined to call you down, and you can reap the rewards. Again, timing of use and sparing use are key to make this work.

[phosphorescence]

i also disagree with #4 about not showing any hands.

aggressive players who try to steal a lot need to try and get respect somehow, and showing the odd monster does stick in people's minds when they're wondering whether you've got a legitimate raising hand the next time.

[powrdragn]

It's not just that.

I've reraised a maniac with 3rd pair and showed it to him. This slows them down when you are in a pot against them. They now know you are aware and that you aren't going to roll over for them.

It also can pay you big dividends when you pick up a large hand and they decide to play back at you.

[frob23]

There are very few "never" things for me when it comes to poker.

1. Oh yeah, I've played drunk... I've played VERY drunk. Depending on the limits and the players, this can be more or less of a big deal. Naturally, I do not make a habit of playing drunk.

2. If the game is still good, and my exhaustion isn't hurting me enough to make the game bad, I will not stop playing just because I am tired. All that matters is that the game is good. And in some cases (especially live), I may be tired but many of the other people at the table will be more tired and start making even more mistakes.

3. I am not a tourney player (not an MTT player at least) but I've been called in to finish off a game for someone before. I take it as seriously as my own money... probably more... because I feel terrible to lose after people have trusted me with their money.

4. I show a lot of hands... more live than online... mostly because it encourages most of the live people I play against to show me their hands or talk about their hands afterwards. They feel obligated (even though they shouldn't) to tell/show me their hand just because I showed mine. This is something I use for information. The big deal with this can be "are the people, I am playing, sophisticated enough to make better use of this information than the information they're probably going to offer is worth?"

5. I use pre-action buttons a LOT. But mostly for folding. I am not worried about giving off a tell when I fold. Folding itself gives off the biggest tell for how weak my hand was. Since I rarely call or check... I usually have to wait to bet anyway.

6. Chat does effect my play... although not my skill level. What a person says or does in chat will provide information that helps me form an image of that person. And that helps me decide how to play certain hands.

7. I've broken this one repeatedly in my life. I have played with all of my bankroll on the table before (at a time when going broke was going to hurt because I was eating with that money too). In general, I obey this rule though. I try and play within my limits. It's much easier to play within your bankroll online. When it's live, you might not be able to find a game small enough and will have to play what is available.

8. My biggest fear growing up was to run into a shark when I played poker. I thought a shark would take all the money at the table. I have since learned that a shark (strong player) on a table doesn't necessarily harm me. I just stay out of his way most of the time and often they stay out of my way. There are plenty of weak players that having a couple superior players, on the table, won't ruin your night. Just make sure you can spot the players who are better than you.

9. There comes a time, especially with NL, that you need to disconnect yourself from the value of the chips and just think of them as chips. If you can't do this, you'll be afraid to make the bets and calls that you have the value to make. There is a balance here. But you can't be thinking, "This is half my car payment for this month," when you make a bet. You just need to make that bet because it's the right bet.

10. This is one I strongly believe in (although I have broken it before too). Every penny you put on the table should be a penny you're willing to lose. You might not want to lose it but you're gambling and that's just part of it.

[ungarstu132]

Originally Posted by powrdragn ungarstu132, what the heck are you talking about. 1. I rarely have to time to play in the thread of the week tournies (even though a nomination would be nice). 2. This isn't my thread. 3. All the things I commented on were statements from the first post.

i was talking in compliance with your post, not about it, my response was aimed at "i eat"

[ungarstu132]

Originally Posted by liladypokerpro Agreed. Why is it that anytime someone posts a useful opinion or thread, it is automatically assumed that they are after a ptotw nomination? That's a bit silly...it's a discussion forum...if there were no discussions, then there would be no forum. As for the OPT, the only one I think I'd disagree with most would be not to show cards if you don't have to. I've made a pretty good strategy using this method. Granted, over-use can get you stuck in a bad situation, or one in which you can't get any callers, and thus make small pots, but if used correctly at the right times, you can totally confuse your opponents and pretty much clean them out with your monster hands. Since players cannot see each other online, other means of solidifying your table image are needed. Conversely, you can just as easily show a bluff once and throw all that down the drain...in the opponent's mind...so the next time you have them dominated, they'll be more inclined to call you down, and you can reap the rewards. Again, timing of use and sparing use are key to make this work.

this isnt a useful post...MAYBE>>>MAYBE an opinion, but otherwise an attempy for ptotw, give me a break, its made up things

[liladypokerpro]

Originally Posted by ungarstu132 this isnt a useful post...MAYBE>>>MAYBE an opinion, but otherwise an attempy for ptotw, give me a break, its made up things

It isn't for anyone to judge what is useful or not useful except for the people who do the nominating for the contest. And as stated before, there cannot be a discussion forum without discussion. One cannot assume that every single post has the underlying intent of achieving a nomination for a freeroll. Furthermore, why on earth does it matter?

People are here to talk about whatever floats their boat. And if the powers that be determine that their ideas or comments are worthy of a reward such as the freeroll nomination, then who are we to argue?

[gamer4life27]

Let me tell you one thing. When I created the 'You got questions, I got answers' board, I wasn't looking for a PTOTW nom, but I got one. I was looking to truley answer peoples questions. I tend to go to other people's questions on a bunch of different topics, so I thought that if I had one place for people to go, it would be easier.

I don't do things looking for a PTOTW nom. I might once in a while if I am looking to play with a few friends, but other than that, I am looking to discuss topics on here about poker with other people. I give my oppinion by posting, and sometimes I get nominated for that, but I am not looking for that. It is really nice if I get one, but it's not neccissairy.

I tend to ramble on when I reply also, so you might take that as trying to get a PTOTW nom, but I'm not. Thats just the way I am. I like to give my oppinion, and have other people judge if it's right or not, and post back.

So far, you have accused two people of trying to get a PTOTW nom on here, when clearly, they are not. Do you really think this would be PTOTW material? This is to discuss what he (I eat gamblers) thinks is the 10 nevers in poker.

[Boilermaker]

I think we all have our own set of guidlines that we play by. We adjust and get better as we go.
If something works for me, it may work for you or it may not. Everyone's different.
If there was only 1 set way to win, I'm sure it would be a dull game. But there's many ways to approach the game.

BTW, Ungarstu .... what contributions have you made to this thread other than bashing?
This thread in question by you has got many veiws and replies, sorta got the rakeback community talking, these are the type threads that usually get nominated for PTOTW.
If i had my say then I'd nominate it.

[BUILDMO]

why in the world would you never play under the influence?

[gamer4life27]

Originally Posted by Buildmo why in the world would you never play under the influence?

It's not that you shouldn't play under the influence, it's that other people (such like I eat gamblers) don't want you to.

[Wyte22]

Let them play under the infulence, I enjoy easy money

[I Eat Gamblers]

I'm sorry but i have to laugh at all the BS on this one, opinions are like assholes,we all got one

as for ungarstu's reply about making shit up to try for a PTOTW entry, i don't post any of my threads for the purpose of getting an entry, i post because i want to hear what people have to say. We all have posted something that might not seem important/usefull, but who cares, it's a FORUM!!!!!!! relax and enjoy a laugh if need be, but don't bash someones post cuz you don't agree.

These 10 things are things that i try to stick 2, don't mean i always do.

[deanpapa80]

these r useful tips