Quote Originally Posted by bunthorne
Some of the basic rules which I learned do not seem to be followed today. I'm interested not learn whether or not this is bad play by weak players or that the game has changed significantly over time. I guess I get really gutted when I lose to players who break these "rules"
Improve your postflop game. You need to recognize when you're beaten and constantly ask yourself, why is this guy suddenly betting into me? Can I bet the worst case scenario? How likely is it that I am ahead?

Quote Originally Posted by bunthorne
1. When not in position (ie UTG, SB or BB) you need a VERY strong hand to play, especially if raised, as you are out of position. E.g you should not play 76s from early position, but can raise with it on the button. These days players seem to call raises with such hands from ANY position. The problem I have is putting players on hands as they might play any rubbish from any position.
Its a very good start in NL to begin a hand with better hole cards, but like I said, you need to work on postflop skills. Opponents will always show down ridiculously stupid hands. Sounds like you're playing in some great games but should tighten up your showdowns and not get it allin unless you have the best hand the board allows.

Quote Originally Posted by bunthorne
2. Do not draw to a flush or straight unless you are receiving the correct odds. Many players seem to draw even though the value is not there, and what makes it worse is that they often hit!
Flushes will hit quite often when people chase on both streets, but not often enough to make it a profitable play. Flushes are easy to recognize, so don't pay off someone's stupid mistake - if you pay them off every time then its not such a mistake for them to chase. Implied odds.

Quote Originally Posted by bunthorne
3. You only draw to a flush when you are sure that, if you hit it, you will have the nuts. So you don't draw to a flush (or a straight for that matter)when there is a pair on the board as if you hit you can lose to a full house. Similarly, you don't draw to a flush with eg 65s with two suited cards on the flop as you could lose to a larger flush. You must also be wary of drawing to a straight only to lose to a bigger straight.
That is completely correct. Let them chase on bad boards, but make sure you have the goods when its all-in time. Make sure you're the one with the full house and you're the one with the big straight. Don't pay off their weak hands.

Quote Originally Posted by bunthorne
4. You have to be prepared to lay hands down. Cloutier gives a good example of this. You raise in middle position with AK, the button and bb call you. Flop comes down AJ6 rainbow. The bb leads at the pot with a pot sized bet - you must FOLD. Yes, FOLD - even though you have TPTK. Why? Because the bb will put you on AK as a possible hand and will not lead unless he can beat this - he eithr has AJ, JJ or 66. Again, though, this rule is often ignored. If I'm in the bb in such a situation I might lead at the pot to REPRESENT such a hand and get pissed off when I'm called by AK, AQ or even AT.
Don't bluff calling stations. Be patient, hit your hands hard, and gut them.

Quote Originally Posted by Rondavu
The fatal flaw in poker books, is that often they're teaching you how to play high stakes poker on low stakes tables.
I think you have this backwards. The poker books teach the correct way to play low stakes poker against calling station fish. The only flaw I can see in poker books is trying to apply low stakes strategy to high stakes games.