Poker Thought Levels

[Vito_Nuccio]

I once read (forgot which book or article) of the thought levels of poker. What level do you play at?

[Vito_Nuccio]

Sorry this post is messed up, I forgot to add the poll. Oh well, it was going to ask your poker thought levels.

Level1: Play your hand
Level2: Play your opponents hand
Level3: What are you thinking
Level4: What is your opponent thinking
Level5: What does your opponent think you are thinking

What level do you play at, do you do more than put your opponent on a hand, do you try to get into their mind, do you try to portray something else into their mind?

Thanks,

[liladypokerpro]

Vito.....you can still add a poll to your thread.....just look above your first post and see a tab that says "Thread Tools" in the drop down menu it will have an option to "Add a Poll to this thread" Then you'll be all set!

[frob23]

If there is a poll, I certainly hope there's an "it depends" option. Because it is generally profitable to only play one level above your opponent. Against some players, I am forced to just play my cards because they're coming along for the ride no matter what. Against others... I might make a bet because I think that they will think that I would have made a certain play earlier.

And sometimes, I will make a play because I think they will think that I am thinking about what they are thinking. For example, against some of the higher level players... I will bet a paired board strongly when it misses me. I do this because they will think that I am betting my trips strongly because I normally would think that they would expect me to slow-play if I made trips and would therefore bet my trips for value. Against a player who thinks this high (there are a couple dealers that I play who occasionally think up on this level) this play works. Against other players, I would never bet in this spot. And against some, I would bet when I had the trips because they would think that I wouldn't bet if I had the hand. And so on... all the way down to betting for value with the trips because the other person is going to call anyway with almost any two cards and won't give a second thought to what I might have.

It all depends on what I know about the other person. If I know they are trying to think about what I am thinking then I need to play very different than if I think they are trying to act based on what they think I think they are thinking. And if they're not thinking... well that's different too. But playing on just one level won't work.

[BUILDMO]

it definetly depends on how good you know the person
I can bluff my grandma and other family members all day long
There are a lot of people that will call just because they think the other player is bluffing
it shouldn't matter what your opponent thinks because you have the best hand
so play like you have the best hand and win

level 1 or 5 would both apply

[Vito_Nuccio]

Originally Posted by frob23 And sometimes, I will make a play because I think they will think that I am thinking about what they are thinking.

Thanks, could not have said it better, the subject of thinking what they think you think that they think gets confusing thinking about it.

Thanks......I think

[liladypokerpro]

LOL Is it unusual that I understood all of that???? HAHAHA