I'm old...61 to be exact...62 at the end of January. But I love online poker and am especially fond of you young smartasses who actually have something more instructive to say than "kewl."

I love "Kill Everyone" (original version...haven't sprung for the Elky copy yet) and think the "Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time" series is the shit. I think the "FTP Tournament Guide" is a damned fine book and credit the "Poker Tournament Formula" with finally opening my eyes to what I call "concept" poker vs "system" poker. (Don't get excited; I'll bore you with what I mean later.)

I'm a heretic, I know, but I think Harrington's books were passe' before they were published and I love the way you young guns keep changing the game, forcing everyone to keep coming up with counters to the latest moves.

I'm 61 and getting older every damned day, but when I play online I feel 25 and am unafraid of the other young punks. That's all thanks to the books and the forums. (It finally sank in the other day when, reading this for the umpteenth time, someone wrote "stop putting people on hands, put them on ranges.") What a concept! And it only took a dozen readings for me to absorb it!

As for the "concept" poker vs "system" poker idea, here's what I mean:

I believe we're all pretty much trained/socialized to find the "right" way to do something; be it study, work, play games, etc, and we try to apply systems to our poker play. In my opinion, that's why starting hand charts are popular. Poker, being a "math" game (starting hand strength, stack sizes, outs, odds, implied odds, etc) makes us think it lends itself to a "system." The pitfall comes when we believe there actually is such a thing. Believe me when I tell you the trap is there and it will not only waste literally years of your time if you search for it, it will hinder your growth as a player.

I started at party way back when and variance loved me for the first year; plus, the players were so godawful bad you really had to be a moron to lose. I had my little Hellmuth "tight is right" sticker on my forehead and made some pretty decent money. Then the game changed (people learned and I didn't) and the pendulum swung the other way for me. I was now the biggest fish at the table and had no clue how to change it. I read Sklansky and Miller, then Harrington and more Harrington. But all I could see were "systems", not concepts, and I still sucked.

Along came the "Poker Tournament Formula." Not only did I recognize myself in every negative player type he cited, I was way too familiar with every poor play he described. At the same time I thought he was nucking futs when he advocated raising any 2 from late position. Nevertheless, I tried it and, holy crap, it worked! And the concept of fear equity/fold equity finally sank in.

The "FTP Tournament Guide" helped to refine the PTF style, adding some control to the unbridled aggression. Good thing, since I was too thickheaded to develop it on my own.

"Kill Everyone" was a freaking relief for a "systemhead" like me...it finally gave me a plan when my stack got short. I'm too damned dense to figure out CSI at the table (especially when I'm multi-tabling) so I converted it to adjusted big blinds. This is one great book just for the push/fold charts. While math based, this section alone takes the math and turns it into a concept exploiting position and fold equity.

Add in books one and two of "Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time" for hand-reading, ranging, and general player tendencies. These two are true "concept" books WITH explanations and reasoning. No systems here.

The point is there's no such thing as a winning poker "system", there are only winning concepts if you implement them into your play. Even poker noobs have heard about "exploiting your opponents' tendencies and mistakes," or, "the player who wins the most is the one who makes the fewest mistakes." True, these statements have been made so often they're utterly banal; they're also true. It's easy to say and believe you understand these concepts...it's much harder to make them an ingrained part of your play. It's especially hard when you're an "old" guy, (or think like one.)

So, stop being an old guy.

(I'd write more because I really do admire you young bastards. But it's time for my meds and nap.)

Cliffs: Stop being an old guy.

Now THAT is an awesome PD post.

 

Originally Posted by kellykip

Now THAT is an awesome PD post.

+1

Great read. Post more!

and now we know the true identity . . .

of Isildur1

;p

u may be old, but ur balls are young, though prolly really wrinkly

exploit stuff and you win!

gr8 post

This is really cool to read. Good luck to you in your future with the game. It's evident to me that your growth as a player is imminent with your attitude.

I thought I was old (legal to drink at 19).

Get your geri-swagger on, bro.

MAde some great points there man, grandfather me now!

Your'e not old! You were just born a long time ago.. A very good read and great post!

lol nice post. Do you find that after a long night of playing you dont even want to open a computer again for a few days? Just asking because I thought i was old at 48 and if i play until 2 or 3 am ( I only play 1 night every 2 weeks) it seems to take my eyes and mind several days before I would have any interest in playing that long again. it is one of the traits I admire in the MTT grinder.

Also do you find your back gets sore from sitting for hours?

It can be a tough grind at any age but at 61 props to you sir!

Great post! I'm an older player too (but, jeez, not NEARLY as old as you), and it's great to see some of your/our generation getting it.

+61

Hey Brann, I just beat you to 62 by a month, and I love ur post. Have read all the same books, and agree with ur take on things. Have been a winning player for 4 yrs in a row, and there's not many things where us 'geriatrics' can compete with the young studs on a level playing field! Much success to you.