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Texas Holdem Lessons

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 by Phil

Texas Holdem Lessons

If you want to be a great Texas holdem player, you’re going to need lessons. For some people, lessons are best taught at the poker tables. For others, however, there are routes that help to expedite the learning curve.

With the Internet, learning to play poker at a high level is easy. No one is going to dominate the games over night, but it isn’t going to take forever to learn either. Some of the most popular tools for poker lessons include books, videos, and coaching.

These three methods are amongst the most popular ways to improve a skill set, but they are not the only ways. Players can give themselves valuable lessons by reviewing their own sessions or even talking strategy with their friends.

There are no “right or wrong” ways of receiving poker lessons. Each poker player is going to learn a bit differently from the next. It is always a good idea to receive different types of lessons, that way you can see which methods of learning work the best for you.

Texas Holdem Books

Books are a way of self-teaching. They are not self-teaching in the sense that players use books as aids, but books rely on a player’s independent application of skills and techniques. Players do not need to invest a ton of money, or even a ton of time, if they want to learn from books.

Some of the best players in the world today credit much of their success to books that they read. Famous poker players, like Doyle Brunson and Dan Harrington, have helped to revolutionize the game of Texas holdem. Some of the information available in poker books used to be the prized secrets of select pros.

Poker books are available on virtually every topic imaginable, from cash games to sit n gos.

Poker books are a great way to learn poker, but some people struggle to apply the concepts that they read about. There is a major difference between reading a poker book and  taking in what you are reading. Anyone can read poker books, but only a good player is going to make use of their newfound knowledge.

This is the key for any type of poker lessons, there needs to be a willingness to learn. Books can get repetitive once you have read a few different titles, so looking for other poker lesson outlets is an ideal plan.

Texas Holdem Videos

The Internet and online poker have created an entirely new way for players to learn about the game. Texas holdem videos can be used as learning tools in many different ways. Players can watch televised poker episodes and analyze the play in an attempt to better understand the game.

But never assume that certain plays are correct. Even big name poker pros make a lot of mistakes. Work with a blank slate whenever you are watching a televised poker event and you want to learn.

Don’t say, “Oh that’s Phil Hellmuth, and he has won a lot of money, so next time I get KK I am going to fold.”

Consider what move you think is ideal in a given situation. You can then compare and contrast how the hand played out vs. how you would have played it. If the hand is played differently than you would have expected, think about why. Plays in poker don’t always work, and sometimes the correct play loses.

There is a common misconception, particularly amongst non-poker players, that a loss implies poor play. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Many new players try to find what they did wrong if they lost, but a lot of times you are going to play well and lose anyway. This is the nature of the game.

The important thing about making decisions is determining what your reasoning is. There is a major difference between making a play and losing and making a play that was well thought out and losing. If you give a hand your best effort and had the right intent, there is no reason to be upset with the results.

As off topic as this all might seem, it’s important when watching televised poker events. A never ending pool of players think that what they see on television is always correct, when in reality this is untrue. Make your own judgments and use televised poker as an aid to your existing skill set.

Texas holdem videos, at one point in time, were limited to televised poker events. Online poker has changed the poker video game. Today, players can watch other online poker players in action when trying to get better. Online players use software to record their screen while they are playing. After these recordings are made, they are then uploaded to popular video sharing sites.

This is where players can watch other players at work. Watching online poker videos is one of the best ways to receive Texas holdem lessons. Generally speaking, these videos are going to include running commentary.

When you watch poker on television, or even in person, you don’t know why someone is making a certain play. If you are watching an online poker video, however, you are going to understand exactly why any given play is made. This type of insight is invaluable when it comes to Texas holdem lessons.

Knowing WHY a play was made is infinitely more important than just making the play. Solid thought processes are what turn losing poker players into winning poker players.

If you want to watch instructional poker videos, check out any number of poker training sites. There are a number of online poker sites that are dedicated to teaching their members. Many poker pros are hired to produce videos and make them available to members of these training sites.

A lot of poker forums also have members who produce videos for free and give them out to members. Training sites usually involve a subscription fee, but there are a lot of free online poker training videos out there if you really look.

There is no shortage of Texas holdem poker videos for players to watch on the internet. Most sites have daily or weekly updates, so you are always going to have another video to watch.

Texas Holdem Coaching

Coaching takes poker videos a step further. Coaching is not new to poker, but it has exploded in popularity since the poker boom. Poker players have sought out mentors and successful players for lessons for many years, but the Internet has allowed for more inventive and effective teaching methods.

Live poker makes coaching difficult, as players need to communicate with each other during play. Some casinos won’t allow this at all, so there are obvious obstacles in live poker coaching. Online poker is an entirely different story.

In online poker, coaches are used by players who really want to get better. A coach is usually going to be expensive, but look at it as an investment. If you’re a high school basketball player, an opportunity to learn from an NBA player would be treasured. Online poker works the same way.

Learning from a winning player can be the difference between profits and losses, but how does it work?

Online poker coaching might seem complicated at the surface, but it’s actually simple. In a nutshell, players talk over the computer (with a microphone) while watching the same screen. The player who is playing gives their coach access to their computer. This can be done safely without any breach of privacy.

Once the software for the Texas holdem lessons is set up, the coach “sweats” his student. The player (student) plays poker while the coach watches and comments. This allows the player to converse with their coach about any given play.

Coaching tends to force players to develop sound thought processes. If you have major holes in your approach to Texas holdem, your coach is always on the microphone and ready to help. Coaching can be costly, but it is worth it if you want to really improve your game.

No one “needs” a coach, but it can serve as a virtual shortcut to Texas holdem success. Coaches can be difficult to seek out. Many coaches make themselves available on various poker training sites. These are often the same sites that publish poker videos.

If you can’t find a coach that you like on a training site, browse some poker forums. Poker coaches are abundant, so make sure you are paying a fair rate and that your coach is qualified to teach.

Some great Texas holdem coaches don’t have fantastic win rates, but they can explain optimal strategies effectively. Ask around for references, and you shouldn’t have any issues finding a great poker coach.

Other Poker Lessons

Some of the best Texas holdem lessons are free or self-taught. Session reviews and discussions with other players can improve your play. Session reviews can consist of hand history reviews, or a simple recall of any live poker hands that you played.

Break down hands that you have played, identify any possible mistakes, and work to correct them in the future. Session reviews are free, and they are a great way to locate any areas of your game that may need improvement.

A discussion of your past hands with fellow poker players can also lead to improvements. Talk about how you played a hand, discuss alternative strategies, and work on strategies that you can use the next time you play.