Why You Can’t Beat Low-limit Games — Part VII

Parts I&II proved that low-limit games’ costs are such a high percentage of the action that you can’t win without a huge edge over your opponents. Part V told you why you should study them, especially the weaker ones. This column will tell you how to study them:

1. Focus on the action.
2. Take detailed notes.
3. Don’t study your cards.
4. Study opponents after folding your cards.
5. Focus on one or two players.
6. Use a labeling system.
7. Constantly try to “get into their heads.”
8. Ask them questions.
9. Propose and test hypotheses.
10. Be honest about your limitations.

Focus On The Action.

This is the first and most important recommendation. It’s so obvious that there should be no need to mention it, but it’s absolutely necessary. Far too many players make cell phone calls, text their friends, play games on their tablets, watch TV, chat with their neighbors, and so on.

They obviously miss much of the action. Some admit that it costs them money, but claim to be too bored to play without distractions. A few claim that they don’t miss anything important. “If something important happens, I immediately focus on it.”

Nonsense!

You don’t get a warning that important information is coming. If you don’t constantly watch the action, you will certainly miss important information, and it will cost you lots of money. Many later recommendations can’t be implemented well without focusing on the action.

Take Detailed Notes.

An earlier series about note-taking said, “In many professions nearly everyone takes careful notes, [and asks] Why, then, do so few poker players take them?”

• They think, “Real players don’t need notes.”
• They’re embarrassed or have misconceptions about note-taking.
• They’re just lazy.

The “real players don’t need notes” belief shows ignorance of what real players do. Dan Harrington is certainly a real player. He’s been extremely successful as a writer and player. He wrote:

“In top-class poker you will encounter many players who, after each session, go home and write down everything they’ve seen at the table… There are players with enormous written notebooks on the habits of hundreds of other players.” (Harrington on Hold’em, Vol. I, p. 179)

Top players know they can’t remember all the important information. And, even if you could remember how someone played today, you couldn’t allow for the way his play changes when he is winning, losing, drinking, angry, and so on. You need detailed notes.

You may be embarrassed or think that taking notes violates some rules. But there are no rules about note-taking, and you can easily take them on your smart phone. Most people will think you’re texting or writing emails.

If you don’t take notes because you’re too lazy, don’t be surprised that you lose. The biggest difference between winners and losers is that winners work at poker, and losers play. If you’re too lazy to work on note-taking, you’re almost certainly too lazy to do the other unpleasant tasks that winners do.

Don’t Study Your Cards.

This recommendation is closely linked to focusing on the action. Studying your cards is less foolish than texting your friends; at least you’re thinking about poker. But studying your cards and thinking of how to play them greatly reduces the amount of information you get.

Poker is an information-management game. The important information is not your cards; if you can’t remember two cards, you shouldn’t play poker. The important information is what your opponents are doing, thinking, and feeling. If you know more about them than they know about you, you’ll probably beat them. So briefly look at your cards, and then switch your focus to the other players.

Study Opponents After Folding Your Cards.

Some players focus on their opponents when they’re involved in a hand, but tune out after folding their cards. It’s a natural reaction, but a serious error. You can learn much more about your opponents when you’re not thinking about how to play a hand. Your mind is more open because you’re not trying to make decisions.

Focus On One Or Two Players.

If you try to study everyone, you’ll probably get confused by receiving too much information. So focus on only one or two. Pick the players who give you trouble. Try to determine why they beat you, then decide how to beat them.

If none of your opponents are especially troublesome, focus on the one or two to your immediate left. Over your lifetime, you and everyone else lose to them because you must act before they do. Understand their style and look for body language that will warn you that they will bet or raise.

Use A Labeling System.

There are many systems for identifying types of players. I naturally prefer the one in my book, The Psychology of Poker, but many others work quite well. The important principle is that you must be comfortable enough to use it very frequently and well.

Constantly Try To “Get Into Their Heads.”

Go far beyond what your opponents do. Try to determine why they do it. What do they want and how do they see situations? If you understand their motives and perceptions, you’ll become more able to predict and control their actions.

Do they want to maximize their profits? Minimize their losses? Relax? Socialize? Get the kick of taking chances? What else do they want?

Do they see poker as a game of skill or luck? Do they understand the odds? Do they even think in terms of odds and expected value (EV)? How do they evaluate other players? How do they see you?

Ask Them Questions.

Don’t ask questions they don’t want to answer, especially, “What cards did you have?” Instead ask ones questions that will help you to “get into their heads.” “What do you think of Joe’s play?” “Do you like short-handed games?” “Why didn’t you check-raise?” “Why did you raise with such a weak hand?”

Propose and Test Hypotheses.

Instead of observing passively, learn actively by putting opponents on hands and predicting what they will do.

“He’s got aces (or a flush, or a straight draw).”

“He will bet (or check, or bet, or raise).”

You’ll learn the most when you’re wrong. Hopefully, you’ll make a note and analyze why you made this mistake.

Be Honest About Your Limitations.

You probably won’t take these steps well without being honest. Most poker players—at all levels—believe they are much smarter and more observant than they really are. They kid themselves by believing:

“I don’t need to study players. I know what they have.”

“I don’t need to take notes. I’ve got a great memory.”

“I don’t have to focus on only one or two players. I can keep track of what everyone is doing.”

Roy Cooke is a master at reading cards and players. He recently admitted that switching to no-limit hold’em has “been much tougher than I thought…I overestimated my abilities…I find I’m making numerous errors,” in reading players and cards.

If a great player like Roy can admit his limitations, so should you. Admit it and work on them. ♠

“Dr. Al” ([email protected]) coaches only on psychology issues. For information about seminars and webinars, go to propokerseminars.com. He is David Sklansky’s co-author of DUCY? and the sole author of four poker psychology books.