Read first play later?

Hello Guys,

As i started trayning hard to be a Professional Poker Player, i started read alot, already read all must heave poker's book, and re-read them on handful ways of odds calculate on table, pre-flop plays, changing gears and many tells...
Almost a brainstorm on poker theorys

I was wondering if its good read before or after getting hard on game, and how u guys did. Sure i already played poker (ohreally!?) but when i realized to beacome a professional one i made my way reading.

And how about u guys, what did u think it worth? Read or Play first?

I do both, that way the knowledge you gain from the books you can apply to situations. That way everything makes much much more sense.

You can never read too much but ultimatelly it's how you are able to incorporate what you read into your game that allows you to progress. It's a constant learning process. Poker is just one big variable.

LOL

Originally Posted by badgers

I do both, that way the knowledge you gain from the books you can apply to situations. That way everything makes much much more sense.

Exactly

you can never be good from only reaading
you can be good from only playing

but they compliment each other.

one day I will read a poker book. Until then I will continue grinding my roll to where I want it to be. Read and play is a good combination, I think posting hands here is valuable, also commenting on posted hands clarifies your thought processes around poker. Good luck!

Reading books is surely more useful for NL200 than for NL20. I've done both book reading and forum reading, but I play donkfish stakes. Forums help more at that level, but the books (for me) set the theory in place.

Also, some pros don't offer their best advice in their books and columns (can you say Phil Helmuth) . Some do (Harrington, Gordon). But most pros - in their books - say they learned the game reading books and discussing hands with other pros. They also suggest they read every book, even those for beginners, and scan forums so they understand the mentality and trends of the players they will face in tournaments. I don't think you can read too much. Just my two cents.

BTW, I'm not a poker pro, though I have a professional interest in the game as a mathematician who teaches probability and game theory. So I play for fun, to learn the game theory stuff, and to win whenever possible. And I read LOTS of poker books, again for fun and learning, not necessarily for making maximum profits.