Didn't think I'd do a "1K post" because I didn't think I'd have anything worthwhile to write. Over the past couple weeks I have changed my mind a bit after seeing a new wave of new posters on threads.

A few months ago I joined 2p2 having played poker for a few years, grinded SSsngs, played some cash, some mtts, and some hu. I would have called myself well above average. I began the same way on 2p2 most do, tossing out advice and critiquing solid posters and reg winners on what they said.

Slowly I began reading more, advising less, playing more and implementing the widely written ideas. My results went up, but more than that the game became easier. I stopped flatting KJ pre on 30bb stacks and noticed fewer gross spots preflop. I started shipping AK with 25bbs and under and had fewer spots on horrible flops where I had no idea what to do having just committed most of my stack. Stopped min 3betting/flatting AA preflop, and got my money in better more often. Stopped playing SCs OOP with small stacks. I added tables, got an HUD, and slowed down my game.

Again, while a small sample, the game feels easier.

I wanted to try to pass some of the things I've learned and been helped with to the new 2p2 posters.

1- Try to make your first 50-100 posts asking questions of things other posters wrote. Your advice is most likely useless/wrong. It hurts, but it's true. Don't run around clicking +1 on everything because you gain nothing and neither do we. Ask a mod, pooh-bah, or some other huge poster to explain why he said XYZ. Why is shove>fold>call? It's fine not to understand a post. I used to read so many posts where I didn't know wtf was going on that I just skipped over them and had to move on. That's fine.

2- After you feel like you understand the gist of why people give the same advice so regularly, try posting hands you find troubling. Don't put up hands where you got AA all in on 234 and the guy had 56. These have to be the most common threads from new guys. Post a spot where the turn came and you just didn't know if you needed to bet or check, a flop spot where you wanted to raise but didn't know if it was right.

3- When you post, let a day go by. Let a ton of responses come in, and then proceed to ask/answer questions that have arisen. Don't be defensive of people critiquing. I routinely write "I know I'm going to be slaughtered" etc because most likely, you played it wrong somewhere.

4- Play and try what you have read. If you haven't learned anything you are doing something wrong. Play lots and lots. Keep reading, keep posting, but play a ton. You need more experience than you have. It will help you post, help you understand spots, and these in turn will help your play.

5- Get in a buddy review. Looking at someone else plays is so much easier to criticize than your own play. I found I would say something like "don't 3bet KK so small preflop" and then realize I did it too. It's a cool way to examine your play indirectly.

6- After a few hundred posts of questions, threads, and answers to questions you felt comfortable answering, start tossing out advice. Stay in SSMTTs. I see some new guys in the MSMTTs. I post here like 1/10 times (mainly asking questions because I don't think my advice is worthwhile to anyone). I still read posts in MSMTTs that I don't understand.

I will play more, read more, ask more questions, move up stakes, and post there soon enough.

Thanks to all the guys who have helped.

Andrew

Not to do someting that you said in this thread...but +1 to everything. I don't know what else to say, because you basically wrote everything out exactly like it should be.

Great post, well written etc and great advice. Not only in this thread but others.

So...+1

1nd

congrats on 1k! The official 18-180man SNG thread was excellent for those first posts after i started my 180s journey - still struggle not going for that "new thread" button with standard/retard spots, but then again - i'm foreign

7) give honest response and dont +1 everything. if you have a question or disagree with someone explain why you think he is wrong.
I, for example learned the most of mullens/dereds responses to my threads in which they said exactly what i did wrong and they were right 90% of the time. Also, just because someone has 5k posts it does not mean that he is right.
But always be polite to any poster or the banhammer will hit you!

8) you will not improve if you dont understand the math/reason behind a play.
for example: if you dont understand shoving K2o 14BB effective from the Hijack into 4 tightish players you have to do some homework on pushbotting. Its too much to ask a player if he could give you the math behind a spot. you have to figure this out on your own to be able to do it ingame in a similar spot.

good posts here, thank you both for the work you are putting in looking at all the hands.
I think the best way for point 8 is to try to do the math by yourself and just let the thought/math process getting checked.

I first want to say that OP his post was verry helpfull and kind of inspired me .
myself as a new member recognize some things i do myself and
i will certainly do my best to work on those .

Off course i didnt made myself a member to criticize those who are wrong
but to learn from the ones who are right you know .. ?
I want to participate to the discussions that will help me to improve my game
and i want to ask as many questions i can about things i don't understand .

Thats what learning is all about huh ?

Your words helped me in my first steps on this forum and and i am sure
that they will help me move further on with my whole game

thx buddy

wat?


Nice Post OP.

Awesome post, thanks OP. Will be implementing these ideas for sure - SSMTT, uFR and uSNL can look forward to some serious inquisition from now on.

I think this is a great post. I don't think newer posters realize how often they chase off some regulars who would post more in SSMTT when they just want to argue instead of discussing things.

Nice post sir, keep up the good work.

ilu

needs to be stickied in flashing bright orange lights at top of page 1, preferably in font size 80

mods!!!!!!!!

hard to learn anything if you never shut your mouth long enough to listen.

nice thread OP, gratz for ur presence here so far

+1 ^_^