Learn Texas Holdem

So much of our time goes into playing and very little goes into thinking about the game away from the table. And the little time spent away from the table finetuning our game rarely is spent on weaknesses. One major tip I can give you is to understand your own strengths and limitations. Little errors add up overtime and when the games are tougher (as you move up in limits) the smallest of errors can turn you from a winner into a loser. I've made a list here of some of my errors. I found this piece of paper in my notes and I thought I would just post it here so you can see the kinds of things I think about when I look at my own game. These are the exact notes from the paper:

* Play too long without breaks or eating. Eat and take a break from the table once an hour. Stretch legs and walk around.

* Shorthanded play has turned me into a calling station. The majority of my game should be me betting, not calling.

* They aren't trying to bluff you! The more I play, the more I think they are trying to bluff me.

* Ace high -- I call too much on the river after checking the turn.

* AK, AQ -- I need to bet the turn and check the river, not opposite.

* Avoid unnecessary hands marginal hands preflop, suited connectors without enough people in, small pairs, etc -- calling other people's raises in general.

* Don't try to win, let the cards do the talking.

Now, this stuff isn't meant to be read as a list of tips. The tip is that you should make a list of your own like this to remind you of your own weaknesses. After reading this, I can tell that it was a while ago when I was playing a lot of shorthanded holdem and went back to playing full games. Much of this list doesn't apply now, as I mainly play in full tables.

I'll make a short list now of some of the things I need to watch out for when I play:

* Still need to eat regularly and get up from the table once an hour to stretch my legs. (Haven't learned my lesson yet.)

* As I've gotten better, my ego has gotten bigger. I don't like feeling like I'm being pushed around so I end up defending my blinds too much. Then it is difficult for me to tell when the players in the back have tightened up and are only raising with good hands. Position has advantage and I need to submit to it some; there is no other way. I can't successfully play out of position against players as good as I am and expect to win.

* I have the opposite idea about playing against other tough players. If they don't know me, they may try to make a few moves initially. After playing for a while though, they are less likely to make moves, not more so. They, like me, are trying to find easy ways to win pots. A raise on the turn and river is rarely a bluff or semi-bluff.

* I like the fact that I take stabs at big pots and occasionally try to push someone off a hand, but I tend to do that more when I'm tired at the end of the day.

* Lastly, but definitely not least, I don't need to be tricky and too aggressive when the opposition isn't tough. I should always start off the day playing really tight and loosening up only if I need to get more action.