Just Poker Talk

• The Stages of a Poker Player - Ray Zee

Two Plus Two Internet Magazine reprinted this story from author Ray Zee in the August issue. Ray originally authored the story in 2001 before the massive Poker boon. He had many requests to re-print the story and the requesters indicated how much the article had helped their Poker game.
The beginning of the story discusses how important it is to pay attention to the game. No headphones because those make you less attentive to the surroundings. Ray also indicates how he went through all the stages in his Poker career. Ray talks about how important each action in the hand is as it has a direct effect on whether you win or lose the hand and ultimately whether you are a profitable Poker Player. Ray indicates how it is paramount to get or save a bet during the hand. Even now 6 years after originally writing the story he still sees players just calling or checking and missing bets. Click ====> here to read the article.

Stages of a Poker Player

• Total Beginner

Plays too many hands and too loosely, raises foolishly, calls when they should raise. Takes these players a while to learn Poker is more than catching cards.

• Tight Player

Almost all successful Poker Players go through this stage. These players win a fair amount of time due only to their tight play and bad opponents. It is in this stage that the emerging good Poker Player learns that making good plays adds to the profits. Bluffs, speculative raises and some experiments gets the Tight Player headed to the next stage.

• Advanced Stage

Player wins more often, pushes marginal hands and every hand looks like it has value. The Tight Player is long gone. Winning the pots are easy with skillful manipulation. Ray indicates here the player has taken a big step back and long leap forwards at the same time.  The advanced stage, if the player plays too loose, might cause the player to lose his bankroll and never recover. But if the player gets through this stage successfully they move on to the next and final stage.

• Expert Stage

Incorporates tight play with imagination win pots without the best hand. The player has become tight and aggressive. Bluffs, Semi Bluffs and Raises to knock out better hands, good calls at the end are traits shown in this stage that were missing in previous stages.

Ray ends the article by letting the reader know that very few players achieve the Expert level and it takes much work.

Your ‘Dead Money’ blogger can only be classified as a Total Beginner. Take a look at the story and see what you think. I know I will have to get to work to move up from ‘Dead Money’ to Donkey as the summer ends and Poker Tournaments get back on the front burner.

Feel free to add any Poker related comments, they are welcome always.

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