Without sounding like a huge fanboy there's a reason he's an online legend.

I think this article discussed the single most important aspect of poker strategy - reacting to and countering the strategies of your opponents at the table. As Rizen mentioned most players (myself definitely included) are too caught up in the "What would Harrington do, what does the math say" school of thought when playing to be as truely successful as the elite players such as Rizen are. This is why, I think, there are frequently threads on here about how one of the top top players is caught out making what looks like a total rookie mistake, or otherwise unexplainable play. They are clearly thinking at a high level and countering their opponents strategies, but as with everything in life, in taking such an approach there will be times when it doesn't succeed and you can end up looking foolish (as Rizen points out in his article).

This is why I think sites like cardrunners, PXF and RPT are such valuable tools as you get pro's teaching you the thought processes they use to achieve their success. This type of training is much more valuable than the advice you get in books (I have read most of the poker books and do maintain that they give you a really solid starting point) as you get to see someone reacting to and countering their opponents strategies as the dynamic of the table changes.

Great read Rizen.

Count me amongst those who think Rizen rocks.

In the vein of Rizen's remarks I think that the best poker commentary which I have ever heard was Greg Raymer's commentary on the final table after his big win at the WSOP. .His ability to look at both sides of the thought processes involved in poker hands reveals the same thinking that Phatcat and Rizen are trying to explain. As a commercial fisherman I have made many large catches by "zigging while they zag". So many that I almost always take a contrarian action to fleet movement and trend.Recently I made a huge hand at 3/6 nl by simply overbetting a huge made hand at a ridiculously "show his bluffs" LAG play er.I have always felt that "Projection" is the worst enemy of a poker player. As an example try inciting a big bet with a "post oak" bluff appearing big hand . great article men!

RIZONAGE JUST PWND THAT ARTICLE. NICEJOB.

I wish only I got to read it and not everybody else. Now we're all going to be doing what everybody thinks we shouldn't be doing but really they think we should be doing it and we think we shouldn't so we don't

It is that kind of thought process as to why he is a poker phenom. That is exactly what I've been trying to do in my game. And though I am still very much working on it. It has already greatly improved my play and results. Great read Rizen, please keep them coming.
Jew

great as usual.......rizen= one of the best online all around ever!!!!

Next we steal from BB

wp rizen

i too liked the article, i follow the logic and it def sounds good and should b key to helping players make more money as mtt players. that said, its very hard for me. im obv a tag player and i have had some success with online play, but i would like more. but i find it very difficult to b successful at expanding on my tag style. i suck whenever i try to loosen up. i seem to get reraised much of the time, i have difficulty makin the proper laydowns, and i seem to get frustrated by it and just wind up goin back to what is reliable for me. it always seems to work against me everytime i try to switch gears or b creative. often i "feel" the right move to make but dont because of past failures, then i read an article that says well if ur scared to look like a fool sometimes then it will b hard to reach the highest heights in poker, or words to that affect. i'd like to think that being scared of lookin bad isnt a problem for me, but truth b told im not really sure, but i know that often i have been unsuccessful in trying to b lag or creative. i think some would say that i would have to expect a period of adjustment, but i cant afford that right now. some might say drop down to the micros, but the play there is so nuts at times, most of the time, till very late in the tournaments, that that seems like a bad idea/waste of time. i really wanna get better, i just dont know how.

fish

Top notch article Rizen....