I think that most of the time that I - and many other Poker authors, professionals even - try to give other players advice it falls upon deaf ears. Half of that time it falls upon ears of people thinking, "ya, if you're so smart...". The other half of the time if falls upon ears of people thinking, "why would you give away secrets if they're so profitable?
Frankly, I don't make crap on this web site, so I really don't care if you read here or not. I've always been an Internet savvy guy since 1990, when I first heard of it in the summer of my Freshman year of high school. I had to wait 3 full years before I got full access to complete access to programming genus the likes have only seen email. For that, I've always felt blessed at how much knowledge IT veterans have bestowed upon myself and the world. I always likened it to Aristotle, if only he knew C, because each programmer that helped me along my way whether online or IRL (if you have to ask, you'll never know), helped me along my life's path to greater understanding of my utmost desire in life; computers and networking. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now, for me? I won't pretend to be the greatest programmer in the world (I already know too many of them), but it isn't for a lack of trying. Much like I can't claim to be the greatest Poker player in the world, but again that is far from a lack of trying. I miss calls on the river occasionnaly. I miss raises when the chips are supposed to be tossed. Then again, so do the best of the best. Most Poker players just don't know the difference.
I tell my tales, and I tell my advice strictly for one simple reason. I have no children (as of today) to pass on my knowledge. The least that I can do is pass on my knowledge to White bread's kids, whom I love each individually and dearly, so that their lives will become better because of the rest. That really means, so that they can take advantage of them the same way that your accountant, lawyer and doctor take advantage of you today.
It's not that they have a higher IQ than me, but I'd still rather pay an attorney than represent myself in court, lest a fool I be. I also would prefer that a veteran surgeon perform my father's heart operation, rather than myself. It all comes down to experience and that you can't find in any book, blog or article anywhere in existence. The very least that you can do is to take advantage of the bits and pieces that you pick up in a blog like mine or any other and form that knowledge along with your own experience into a new and better piece of knowledge that you alone hold. Remember, I read (and obcess) a ton and I talk to EVERYBODY.
The hard part really isn't the learning and knowledge, but it really comes down to the will to succeed. The sheer force of will to force yourself to see past the beat and ignore it for the fact that Aces (or whatever) don't ALWAYS hold up!
It's seldom wrong to fold, but it's almost always wrong to call. Go figure why most people prefer to just call most of the time. They're weak players, and that's what they're there for; hit them with every thing you've got and TAKE their money.
Play the opponent, play the percentages, play whatever, NO. Play based on all of those factors and more! In-fact, Just Play!
Find your own game and hone it every hand, every hour and every day. Regardless of the pursuit, that is what truly makes greatness possible. The rest is just practice and waiting.
Got game?
Nicholas has left the 3s