Learn Texas Holdem

Question: I've been playing hold 'em for about 3 years - just before it got really big. I consider myself an above average player for the stakes I play. Which range from $20-$100 tournaments, $5-10 limit, and nl table games with buy ins up to $300. These are the stakes my bankroll can afford, the stakes I am comfortable at, and the stakes at which I win or place often at. I don't want, need, or have the time to make the game more. I love the game, and your Q&A's.

These days there is so much poker on tv, and it is great. but I feel like many people get tricked. You see 1 or 2 hours. How long are most of these sessions? I imagine 4-12. Also, you only see the monster hands or wierd hands or river hits. What I am saying is that many people I know or see play crazy and are very impatient. The pro's play these long sessions and set their play and fellow players up. And we see the espn like highlights. When in reality these sessions are like classic pitching duels in baseball where its not all offense, but a skillful chess game. What is your advice to new players who'd like to watch more of these heavy hitters play more, and play well?

Answer: That's a tough one. Probably the best chance to watch the pros play is to enter satellites for large tournaments. All the big name pros on TV still play satellites. For cash games its pretty hard. For all the high limit stuff, the games are usually in sections away from the main rooms. You can watch big games in Vegas and CA where most of the people playing are professionals, but to see like a $1000/2000 game going, you'll need to be in a separate area.

Hopefully someone will eventually come out with a DVD of entire cash games or tournaments where you can see the action develop over a few days, instead of just highlights.