The number one, most important, poker skill.

[David]

Sorry David, but I think what you said 'Implementation', kinda goes without saying? In ANYTHING in life... Sure it is an attribute of playing, putting what you know into actions on the felt, but is not what I'd think of as the number one most important skill.

Sorry you disgree.

And no, it does NOT go without saying. As much as everything in life is applying an implementing what you know, in poker I have found there is an extremely vast gap between what a person knows, and how they utilise that in the moment.

DISCIPLINE, FOCUS and OBSERVATION are important and unless you use these, you can't apply and implement what you know and what you have learnt.

[bennymacca]

dave is right about implementation

i would say that i know more about AFL than most people

but that doesn't mean i can play the game! in fact i am a b grade hack


the same could be said for poker, although its a little easier to implement because no physical coordination is required

[krunchie]

Im Sorry AJG that you disagree with my switching off between hands but i think it worked for me,

Its actually a technique i picked up from cricket, something learnt by reading books by the games ledgends

you cant concentrate 100% solid for a knock of 8hours if you do you will be so shattered you will make a mistake, and in that sense poker is like cricket, 1 bad mistake and that can be the end of your innings.

Now dont gent me wrong you can never switch off compeletly but you must take your mind away from the game from time to time in order to let it rest so that when you do have some really important decisons to make, you have some focus left to complete the mission.

I agree that you must pay attention inbetween hands but if your playing 4-6-8 hours or 4 days,
is it vitaly important that you pay 100% attention to every hand, of course not- to do so would be suicide to your attention span.

The idea is to find a happy medium, and thats what i belive i found, i left the game on sunday after 7hrs play feeling like i could have gone longer, where in the past i was shot after 4.

so tell me who is wrong and who is right, as i said before, it works for me and im sticking to it.

[Origami]

bruce always folds when he thinks fold

and Im good at it 2.

[bennymacca]

Im Sorry AJG that you disagree with my switching off between hands but i think it worked for me,

Its actually a technique i picked up from cricket, something learnt by reading books by the games ledgends

you cant concentrate 100% solid for a knock of 8hours if you do you will be so shattered you will make a mistake, and in that sense poker is like cricket, 1 bad mistake and that can be the end of your innings.

Now dont gent me wrong you can never switch off compeletly but you must take your mind away from the game from time to time in order to let it rest so that when you do have some really important decisons to make, you have some focus left to complete the mission.

I agree that you must pay attention inbetween hands but if your playing 4-6-8 hours or 4 days,
is it vitaly important that you pay 100% attention to every hand, of course not- to do so would be suicide to your attention span.

The idea is to find a happy medium, and thats what i belive i found, i left the game on sunday after 7hrs play feeling like i could have gone longer, where in the past i was shot after 4.

so tell me who is wrong and who is right, as i said before, it works for me and im sticking to it.

fair enough krunchie

if you feel like it helps you and it works for you, then keep doing it

but i look at it this way. if you are playing tight poker, you are probably playing around 1/4 of hands or less. so if you are only concentrating on those hands, you are missing out on 75% of all opportunities to get information about how the other players play. and this is the best time to pick up information, because you are not risking any chips in the process.

i prefer to concentrate as hard as i can while i am at the table, on every single hand. if at any time i feel like i am getting tired, i will fold when it is my turn and get up and walk around for a bit, go to the toilet, get a drink etc. even if i miss 1 hand in the process, i come back refreshed after only missing 1 hands worth of info (maybe 1 hand every half an hour) instead of 75% worth of hands
but each to their own i guess. if it works for you mate, stick to it

[AJG]

WOW, how many ppl can disagree with me at once

And no, it does NOT go without saying. As much as everything in life is applying an implementing what you know, in poker I have found there is an extremely vast gap between what a person knows, and how they utilise that in the moment.

I didnt disagree that its important, just meant (probably said it in the wrong way) that of course you need to implement what you know. Kinda like saying, you need to remember the rules when you play... In either case you wont be too successful if you don't.
Jeez there are times when there is a light-year between what I know and what I utilize in the moment! So I see your point (always did), just don't think of it as a skill per say.
I suppose to me, it comes under discipline, so we're really splitting hairs...

As for the gap you mention, yeah it does seem to be more prevalent in Poker, but then ppl are limited for time (esp online) and have other pressures that either dont exist or are diminished away from the felt.

@Krunchie: wasnt disagreeing with your 'switching off' just surprised, I basically think as benny the cunt does on that one, and of course you don't need to maintain 100% concentration on every hand for 6+ hours, but I think its a good idea to do it until you have a read on your opponents, like at the start of the tourney, or from moving tables, which hopefully you can do within a couple of levels. I also think thats where preparation away from the felt can come into play... Good sleep, excercise, meditation etc can all help increase concentration. Have even heard of players taking supplements like Ginkgo and Brahmi, Fish Oil EPA/DHA etc to enhance concentration and memory.

@Scott: Of course it is, but imho your comparing apples to oranges...

[AJG]

....
the best time to pick up information, because you are not risking any chips in the process.

Not to mention that you dont have to think about your own play in these hands, so can give more attention to your opponents...

[krunchie]

Have even heard of players taking supplements like Ginkgo and Brahmi, Fish Oil EPA/DHA etc to enhance concentration and memory.

Thats very interesting

the only suplements i was aware of to aid poker playing ability
had names like

Johnie walker and Jim beam.



But i accept your point

[Bob B]

Make sure the cards are facing you not your opposition!!!!!!!

[bennymacca]

Jeez there are times when there is a light-year between what I know and what I utilize in the moment! So I see your point (always did), just don't think of it as a skill per say.

don't you think putting things into practice is a skill as well?