I started playing poker seriously about 13 years ago, and when I decided to get better, I did 2 things: I read everything written by Sklansky, and I talked to Bob Starks on a regular basis. Bob was a formula player, but he taught me some valuable lessons that I hold on to even now. Home games in MN back then were usually for 10-20 limit or maybe 20-40 occasionally. My bankroll stayed around 6k, and not much more was needed. I never made a ton of money, and I learned a style that is frankly not that useful in today’s games against more sophisticated opponents. But here are some things I learned from Bob that you should know. <READMORE>

When you are winning, you are given credit, although you don’t deserve that credit. Occasionally, you will want to use this to your advantage and push a bit more than you normally would, because players fear the guy that is winning. The opposite is also true. Don’t try and pull off bluffs when you are down, because your opponents see you as beatable. This last point is arguable, but I hope most people understand that I am talking about what to do in general.

When you are winning, play looser, and when you are losing, play tighter. This point is also arguable, and I would venture to say that I ignore it mostly when I play now, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t valid or doesn’t work. It did for many years for me and kept me on the winning end of play. If you play any level 10-20 or down and you use this simple theory, you might not win as much, but your losses will go down significantly. Most people do the opposite, and it costs them mentally.

Give the devil his due. How many times have you thought, “I will leave once I am even,” only to get within a hundred or so and then lose back $500 or $1000? Bob and I used to just get close and then leave. There was nothing more gratifying than winning $1500 the next night and knowing you were well disciplined and were up $1400 for that two day interval.

I remember saying to Bob once, “do you know what they have?” and he said that he didn’t, and that he was just playing cards and situations. It occurred to me at that moment that Bob and I were different players. I knew what they had almost like an extra sense, though with limit poker and playing against 8 opponents, it stood to reason what the winner had. I could at least normally pick 3 to 4 of the hands out-what they had and what they were drawing towards. Bob thought I had some special talent, and to this day, his confidence in my game is largely responsible for the player I have become.

Last time I talked to Bob, he was 3 tabling 5-10 on Party Poker and making a fortune. His style works. Bob was not a whiner and was always respectful to his opponents. In a lot of ways, I am the opposite of Bob, but I am smart enough to know that Bob was one of the main reasons I am the player I am right now. Once I told Bob that I thought people were cheating in the game and that it seemed everyone was against me (I was young and dumb and I had likely just lost more than I could afford). Bob said the single best thing for me at that point. “You don’t need more books; you need a psychologist.” Bob wasn’t big on insults typically (another point where Bob and I are different), and for some reason that really hit home. If I was going to get better, I needed to focus on the things I could control. I didn’t really think these guys were cheating me; I was just too vain to admit I was a loser.

I have never had a losing year playing poker, and a large amount of that credit goes to Bob.
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