If you wanted to work on your poker game, there are several ways you could do so. You could start by reading David Sklansky's poker textbooks and learning the fundamentals. You then could practice what you've learned by using Wilson software, which simulates live-game play. From there, you could pick up Mike Caro's Poker Probe and run all kinds of simulations yourself. Even after you have done all of that, there is still more you could do to improve your game. You could visit online newsgroups like RGP, 2+2, and the United Poker Forum. All are good sources for poker information.
Now, all of these tools are fantastic, but poker enthusiasts are soon to be treated to a new study tool that may prove to be more valuable than all of them. Before I get to that, let's look to the National Football League (NFL) for an example.
In the early days of the NFL, there were no films and not much statistical information that teams and coaches could use to prepare for their next game. So, they simply worked on perfecting their own plays and hoped for the best. Then came the introduction of game tapes and the sharing of such information with opposing teams. Needless to say, this changed the way the game of football would be played forever.
It elevated the game from a brute, animalistic sport to a scientific chess game of sorts. With every team knowing the opposition's plays, it was necessary to come up with even more unique plays and even more deception.
How does that relate to poker? Think about it: If you were to play somebody heads up and he had your entire playbook in his back pocket, how do you think you'd fare? Not very well, I would imagine. Of course, you probably wouldn't put yourself into that situation willingly.
Now, here comes the World Poker Tour. In it's first season, you'll be able to watch 13 different final tables of major events. Not only that, you'll be able to view the holecards of each player!
This will give the average player "free lessons," if you will. Gus Hansen and Howard Lederer won not one, but two of these prestigious events. Thanks to the minicams located beneath the players' cards, you'll be able to see exactly how they did it. What better way to improve your game than to watch the top players in action, and play along with them. Along the way, you can analyze every move, which will likely give you some valuable insight as to how these champions think. So, how much will all of this cost you? Nada! All you have to do is tune in every Wednesday night to the Travel Channel, listen to the expert commentary, and soak in the action. Pretty sweet!
If you are really serious about the game, you can take it a step further than that. You can tape the shows and then go over them again and again. Heck, if you work hard enough, you'll likely pick up several tells on players you'd have to face eventually if you want to win a big tournament yourself.
Similar to what happened in the NFL, I believe the WPT will revolutionize the way the game of poker is played. Initially, that will be bad news for the top players (as it will enable average players to improve at a much faster pace), but in the long run, everyone who loves the game of poker will benefit from its growing popularity.
The WPT is the real deal. If you've seen any of the events, you've seen that those involved in their production take it very seriously and are doing everything in their power to ensure that the events will be a success.
I can just see it now: A couple of years down the road, your collection of WPT DVDs grows to the point where you have inside information on the majority of the top players. Then, you find yourself at a final table with them: What are you going to do? Well, if I were you, I'd pop those DVDs into my DVD player and do my homework. I'd study betting tendencies, and look for tells, weaknesses, and so on so that I'd feel totally prepared for the task at hand.
The WPT is poker's most recent evolution, and may likely be its most important. I wrote a column not too long ago called, "Running Bad, Are You?" in which I explained that if you don't keep up with poker's ever changing face, things will pass you by. Your results will suffer and you'll be left with a choice: blame bad luck, or take responsibility for your results and do your homework.
Now, lots of the old-school players hate the idea that their trade secrets will be revealed for all to see. They just aren't focusing on the bigger picture. Seeing players' holecards makes the show more exciting, plain and simple. The show being exciting translates into more fans, more exposure, and more added money in tournaments. And a lot of that added money will end up in the hands of these old-school players.
The other big factor they are missing is that they too will benefit from seeing other players' holecards. If they've had trouble reading a certain player in the past, the tapes might help them avoid mistakes against that player in the future. The tapes will help the average player, sure, but it would be foolish to think they won't help the top players, as well.
In closing, let's go back to the NFL one more time. What do you think would happen if one team decided not to bother studying any tapes at all, and just wing it? They'd get killed. Poker tournaments are obviously not at that extreme yet, but you'd be kidding yourself if you didn't think they were heading that way.
So, I'd advise you not to waste this glorious opportunity to expand your poker knowledge. If you can't be home on Wednesdays to catch the shows, make sure you tape them on your VCR. It's free information that you just can't afford to pass up – and it's going to be very entertaining, to boot!
Daniel can be reached through his website: www.fullcontactpoker.com, where you can also read his biweekly diary. The site is funded solely by Daniel himself, and all the opinions and beliefs he shares there are genuinely motivated.