It's never to late to learn
Poker is a complicated game. During any given hand, many decisions need to be made to fi nd an optimal result. At the WSOP Academy, we often see players overlook the simple answers; they dive in deeper and create a more complicated situation. Sometimes that’s right and the hand needs to be taken to another level. Other times, this thinking is wrong and the hand is being played so straightforward that the simplest explanation should prevail. Our students are taught to fi nd the most relevant details, based on individual experience, and apply their knowledge to come up with the correct decision.
Whether you are a seasoned vet or a new player, decision making is the ultimate characteristic that will determine a winning or a losing player. Smart players may feel that they should win all the time, but all too often, because of their expectations, they don’t put in the effort that they should. They expect too much, but they can make their expectations a reality with a little assistance. Those who attend the WSOP Academy will get training in multiple aspects of the game that can provide them with added insight to make these decisions easier. After all, aren’t we looking for the most concrete information quickly before we make our decisions?
I often witness players contemplating a major decision who eventually talk themselves into calling a bet that was put into the pot. Although I’m not going through the thought process with them, I know that the player must do one thing to the best of his or her ability: compare each and every reason to call, fold, or raise. In many cases, the player understands the fundamental concepts but cannot apply them correctly.
For example, in any decision you make, there are going to be factors arguing for each choice: call, fold, or raise. Obviously some factors carry more weight than others and it is up to you, as the player, to determine which ones. But how can you determine which factors matter most? Determining the context of the action is what will lead to success, but that analysis isn’t always easy.
At the WSOP Academy we pride ourselves on giving you the best examples and most in-depth knowledge so that these decisions become less dif- fi cult. Poker isn’t a simple game, but it can be easier if you know what you are looking for. Even if you’ve been a poker player for only a day, you know that everyone is always looking for tells. The exchange of information from player to player is valuable, but actually analyzing that information correctly is what really makes a difference. When you come to the Academy, you’ll see that Joe Navarro, our tells expert, not only helps you get the most out of what your opponents are saying to you (even when they don’t know they’re saying it), but he’ll also make sure that you aren’t sharing your story either.
Joe is a former FBI agent who specializes in the nonverbal exchange of information. As interrogation was his specialty, he knows exactly what to look for when his counterpart isn’t saying anything. More importantly, he’s applied what he knows to the poker table. I could go on about Joe for this entire column, and in a future column I will, but even though Joe is great, there is more at the poker table to follow than just tells.
Tells can infl uence your decision, but then you still have to think like a poker player and analyze the context of the tell and rest of the information available. Sometimes players overlook the simplest explanations, and I see this often with the newer online players.
Online poker players are a new breed. They see thousands of hands in a session at speeds the live player has never experienced. Their biggest problem is that they are so inexperienced at playing with real cards and real chips that they stick out at the table. It’s these players who can benefi t greatly from a trip to the Academy.
Although players have seen these hands and situations play out thousands of times, sitting down in front of another player changes everything. Instead of focusing on a computer screen, their eyes must be on the competing players. The live players are experienced in seeing the action fi rst hand and will capitalize on obtaining the knowledge that their online opponent cannot.
During every two- or three-day seminar we host one or more tournaments for great prizes. For players without live experience, a chance to sit down (with some of the most experienced and celebrated players of the game) in a no risk situation is the chance of a lifetime.
I say no risk because these tournaments are included in the cost of the Academy. You’re there to learn and improve your game; winning something is an added bonus, but that isn’t what’s important. Of course the prizes are great, but what you learn during your stay will pay back the cost of the Academy multiple times if you utilize the information correctly.
We want every player, not just the online one, to sit down to learn. This isn’t like every other tournament you’ve played. It’s designed so that the exchange of knowledge continues to your very last hand. We want you to approach the pros at your tables and ask them about their thought process – they have to share it. Why did they play it in that fashion or in that position? Why did they bet that much? Why didn’t they value bet? What are they thinking with you as their opponent? There is no better place to obtain the information than on the felt, and everyone at the Academy is here to help you put everything you already know into context.
After you leave the Academy, I’m confi dent that you’ll walk away with a much sharper sense of what to look for at the table. If you’ve ever struggled with a tough decision, just think that maybe the answer was right in front of your eyes. After coming to the WSOP Academy, you’ll be amazed at how much easier these decisions will become.
