Nothing Stock about a Stock Car

by Al Spath

I harkin back to the days my "boyz" ran their dad's 1963 Dodge Satellite (383) "hemi" in the streets of Mount Vernon, New York. Back when leaving patches of tire tracks was a way to get someone's attention (usually a pretty girl). Creating smoke and screeching sounds seemed like an obvious way to get noticed, but how effective was it?

To remind or inform you, those were the days when you borrowed your dad's new car and six hours later you returned it, with an upgraded cam or enhanced carburetor modification. Looks can be deceiving; under the hood was a whole new surprise for potential street-racing adversaries. Just as in the poker world, players who once looked extremely vulnerable and easily dominated, somehow rapidly assimilated the needed skills and morphed into a new identity within days or weeks. The beauty of it is that no one notices in time and someone will get "clocked."

At www.pokerschoolonline.com for example, we see many new members arriving at the doorsteps of "higher learning" with great enthusiasm and lofty goals, yet unprepared and unarmed to compete at the same levels as those they are about to encounter at the tables. However, unlimited resources are at their disposal (including videos, audio's, written lessons, quizzes, tests, and articles) on a plethora of poker subjects, providing a mechanism for a transition from novice to learned student. Many members take full advantage of these resources and the unique training tables which offer "live" instruction using a voice communication system, not a typed chat dialogue.

Students are fully engaged, discussing tactics and strategies with the instructor and other members attending the group training sessions. At the training tables, specifically designed to display hole cards when a hand is completed, they learn from their mistakes, while enjoying their successes. The "learned" experience from viewing cards and discussing starting hand requirements, along with the importance of position, bet sizes, and of course short-stack play, will lead the member (student) to gain insight and understanding on how to play in a more successful way. Applying these new skills and approaches to situations will result in improved play and precise (often correct), decision making. After all, poker is not actually about winning pots, it's about making correct decisions that lead to overall poker success.

When armed with new weaponry, those same individuals who had been abused at the tables since inception of their play continue to look like the same "stock" player. However, they are now equipped to handle the onslaught dished out by more experienced players. Opponents who have labeled them soft, loose, and indefensible (just mere weeks ago), soon find out that "change" has indeed occurred and a worthy opponent has risen from the "rail", offering new challenges and obstacles that will succeed against them.

Many players take copious notes on their opponents. Some clever players will even date their entries: (for example: 4/1/08-defends blinds with any two; 4/3/8-draws out of position, w/out pot odds). These notes are helpful to define an opponents tendencies and history and when dated, will allow the note-taker to make changes (again annotating a date), when new observations indicate that the poker prowess of their recent "poorly playing prey" have dramatically changed.

Players choose to play the game of poker for many reasons and most start playing with the intention of learning all they can, while becoming very successful. However, there will be those who play for other reasons, whether it is for fun, entertainment or just to relieve stress. Luckily for us, we occasionally get to play with players with deep pockets who often play at stakes they can afford (although they sit with skills more associated with players at the .5/.10 level). These are new players who play just wanting to be part of the latest fad (poker) and do not want to feel left out by all their friends, who play poker more frequently. Their task is two fold. First, to identify and recognize opponents' weaknesses and acknowledge their gained skills as they are developed. Secondly, improve one self's skill in exploiting those weaker opponents at the table.

Remember, a '64 Nova with a 6-cylinder logo on the side of car might not just have a "stock" engine under the hood. They may have a 327 hp, 300 cubic inch engine under the hood. Vroom!

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About the Author

Al Spath is the "Dean" at PokerSchoolOnline and has authored the "Poker Journal." In addition to having one place for all your poker records, you'll get advice and tips on reading hands, playing live, reading tells and so much more (www.alspath.com). Al's poker expertise, coupled with his insight and ability to communicate effectively to both large and smaller sized audiences, make him an ideal speaker for any company, convention, college, or organizational group venue.

Comments to: AlSpath@pokerschoolonline.com

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