X-Terminators Poker Crew

Mixing up your game play is an essential and intricate part of the game.  This my friends, is a strategy that should be implemented in all types of poker (cash game, tournament, sit & go, satellites etc.)  This tactic unfortunately is a lot easier said then done.  Beginner and intermediate players find this a very difficult concept to implement, because they have been playing one style for so long.  In order to succeed at any level of this game you must retrain your brains thinking process. 

You might be playing AK, 88, KJ, 55, J10 etc. the same way in the same positions all the time, with out giving any real thought to playing them differently in certain situations.  This type of play (Auto Pilot) in the long run is a recipe for disaster, especially against solid players.  Solid players will pick you apart, because they will noticed that you only play in one gear, making you there target for profit.  If you are anything like me, you don?t want to be anyone?s target for profit.  This means that is time to ?Retrain the Brain?.  This game is about thinking, judgment, and making the right decisions at the right times.  This game is about out witting your opponent, why else would you play this game.  This does not come easy; it takes hours of studying, thinking and application through playing.  The Player that makes the least amount of mistakes in the long run will definitely come out ahead and show a consistent profit.   

How do you retrain the brain? This is a good question.  Giving you my opinion on what has helped me to retrain my brain is all I can offer.  Besides putting a lot of study hours in, I began playing a variety of hands differently in a variety of situations.  I implemented this technique pre-flop, post-flop, on the turn and on the river.  Whether it was playing cash games or small buy in tournaments (Home games or Casinos) I had to learn the hard way, and that was by loosing money.  Please don?t get me wrong, I did not deliberately set out to loose money, I just knew that the application of this new strategy was going to come at a cost.  I always went into a session of poker with the same winning attitude; but positive things and results did not occur over night.  As I was trying to retrain my brain, there were plenty of set backs and pitfalls.  Sometimes after a few bad sessions on the felt or long loosing streaks, I thought maybe I was just fooling myself, and should go back to the old predictable style I was accustomed to.  After a few hours of feeling sorry for myself, I would get my mind set back, realizing that continuing to apply change was in my best interest.

 As I started to change my style and implement new techniques to my arsenal, I noticed an interesting change happening.  This change was called ?Consistent Winning?.  Don?t get me wrong, I am not some super hero, I have my share of losses as well, but my win vs. loss ration has sky rocketed for the positive.  Mixing up my game play and not giving up has been the best thing that I could have done for myself.  It has taken me many years to realize that fundamentals can only get you so far.  If you don?t implement change or mix up your game play you will never climb to the top of the poker ladder, you will just continue to climb and fall down.           

The unfortunate part of this game is that it takes money to play, and while you start implementing this new tactic into your arsenal, you will probably loose more money then you will win at the beginning.  If you think and breed change, change will happen, you just have to stay with it and not give up.  Remember the old poker adage ?This game takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.?  If you live by this motto, then applying change should become second nature to you, and your results will continue to improve, and you will grow as a player.        

In an interview that I saw Phil Ivey in a few months ago, he was asked this question ?How have you gotten so good at this game, you always seem to make the right moves at the right times and you seem to always know what type of cards your opponents are holding.?  Phil Ivey made one simple response ?It has taken many years of playing, and a lot of lost money to get where I am today.  Experience has been my instructor?.    

I hope this article has at least got you thinking about applying change to your game.  If you would like to discuss specific topics regarding mixing up your game play please feel free to contact me.  Until next time, I want to wish everyone good ?Skill? in all your future poker outings. 

Paul ?The Machine? Valencia.