Playing a learning game of poker

[winningedge]

I've heard tale of games that some poeple play where the purpose of the whole game is to get better at playing poker.. Basically, at the end of a hand, everyone flips over their cards, reguardless of the result, and discusses why the had went the way that it did.. Obviously this isnt necessarily something you would want to do with poeple you play in serious games on a regular basis, but I was just wondering if anyone had ever heard of playing like this or actually done it, and what you thought about the idea overall..

[Mika Ollila]

Sometimes when a first time or novice player comes to our friendly home game, we analyze his hole cards and play a bit after the hand is over if the player wants it.

I am not sure how good a learning experience it would be if everyone flipped over their cards at the end. Poker is a game of incomplete information after all, so a part of it is to try learn opponent playing patterns, categorize them and exploit what you find out. I suppose that exposing your style by filipping over cards after every hand would lead the game to be different than it normally would be.

[Rowena105]

[Well I agree that it definitely would make my style of playing a little different. However, I did teach a friend how to play poker by using play money games and msn. We would sit at the same tables and she would tell me what she had and I would tell her how to play it and I would play my hand as if I didn't know what she had. As the game was proceeding I would explain to her why she was playing her hand and why I was playing or folding mine. Within a couple of months she was playing on her own and a couple of months after that she was actually winning money. She has become a very good poker player and I won't sit at the same tables she is playing at unless it happens to be a tournament and I have no choice.

[PokerPrincess]

Well I have never done either of those things. I would think the easiest way to teach someone is to sit one on one with them and explain the hands as your go along. I would probably play the first hands face up so they could see what I have and what they have and explain why you do something and why they should do something.

[kdarrell]

Well I have never done either of those things. I would think the easiest way to teach someone is to sit one on one with them and explain the hands as your go along. I would probably play the first hands face up so they could see what I have and what they have and explain why you do something and why they should do something.

This would be a way that I would love to learn how. To have an experienced poker playing teach me as we go along instead of my fumbling along my way and think I'm playing ok when there are other tricks that some one more experienced may be able to show me.

[kelkat]

We play the hands up games whenever we teach any one any new card game. If there are several of us, then we usually go the next few games with one of us playing over the new guy's shoulder (so to speak) that way we can give them some tips and hints. And after the hand we can explain the whys.

[r8rpwr]

I think there is some value in this. I have not done it for poker, but have for spades when teaching new players.

Doesn't take long to get the hang of it though, so I could not see playing like this for very long at a time.

[chocolatee]

if you are just teaching a friend how to play the game i guess it's okay to do this...

[kelkat]

If you make them up a cheat sheet AND if they play any kind of cards whatsoever, then one hand should be enough for them to get the idea. If they are complete card illiterate then I suggest they just watch for awhile.