2 Beginner Questions

Ok heres the deal..

I started playing poker a few years back- nothin serious, just home games once every so often ( I almost always lost). So since I sucked I decided to look up some techniques- here comes FTR. I probably stumbled onto this site around 6 months ago- read a lot of stuff in the beginners forum, but probably not nearly enough (also read the comune- hilarious btw).

Anyway, most of the advice was to just start playing-get some experience. I am a college freshman, so I started playing poker online when I got here, about 3 weeks ago. I tried to play some ring, but found I do fairly well at tournemants. Ive read HOH 1 and in the middle of HOH 2, and when Im done with them I will probably get TOP. But anyway, overall, I am up 3 dollars ( I know its not much- but I was ecstatic when I got up over net 0.)

Ok, so now you kinda know me, so now I need help- How do I find my leaks? I get all my hand histories- but I am horrible at correcting myself. I would post some for example, but honestly, I couldn't give you the correct situation. I am horrible at reading people. I try to study people, but I just don't seem to be getting it. There is just too many people to work on, and if I try to focus on one or two- I still don't get anything.

So I guess my question is twofold- how do I properly analyze hand histories ( I would rather do it myself to get a basis before ask for anyone else's opinion- so I can learn), and what should I look for to try to read opponents?

Thank you for all the responses (if I get any, that is )
O yeah- I know I suck- I've realized it, now Im hoping to get better through your help.

Hi and welcome to FTR. Good to have you here!

There's no need to focus on every single player for every single hand. Just focus on the active players in each hand. For example, if three players fold and the fourth raises, have they been raising every hand or is it their first raise? Have they folded every hand previous to this one or have they limped in? What hands (if any) have they shown down previously, have they been weak or strong? Also, don't worry about trying to put players on exact hands, nobody (well, maybe with the exception of Daniel N or Phil I) can do this, focus on the range of hands that opps might hold.

Probably the best way to learn is to just go ahead and post the hands about which you were unsure with as much background to the hand and situation as you can remember and we can go from there. BTW if you're playing sit-n-go tournaments, feel free to post in the Sit-N-Go Tourney Tactics forum directly (that's where I usually live).

Again, welcome!

You've only been at it for 3 weeks. You have a lot to absorb, and a lot of it is gained by experience, esp. reads. Just keep playing and keep reading. It'll all come.

Welcome to FTR.

Hi Zee Devee,

Nobody is perfect. Some players are better at ring games and some players are better at tournaments. I, myself, am better in ring games, because I don't have enough patience to play for 8 hours or even more. I am not concentrated anymore, if I'm sitting there like a monkey, staring at the screen...

First of all, you should find out what you prefer, because tournament and ring game tactics are completely different. It seems like you found out you prefer tournaments, which is the first step on this road.

As mentioned before, it's learning by doing. And even if you play 20 or more years, you will still learn something new. If you better like tournaments, play them. Forget the ring games, if you don't feel good with it.

Good luck!

Here's a quick idea for you to get started with reviewing your hand histories. Since you're currently reading the HOH books, take one particular concept in the book, and go through and see how you're doing. For example, Action Dan goes over starting hand requirements for a few different situations in HOH1. Take your last tourney HH and go through each hand and just see how you compare as to which hands you decided to play.

Sometimes I like to print mine out and get away from the PC ... go lounge on the couch with a highlighter and try to look at it objectively. Pretend you're a teacher grading a paper. If you run across hands where Dan doesn't exactly cover the situation, or it looks iffy, post it up here for us to chew on.

General advice - take it slow, focus on one concept at a time, don't try to drink from the firehose. This game is truly amazing in that there are so many layers of complexity. I look back at my game from a year ago and its stunning how much I've learned.

Hi and welcome to FTR!

reading other players is pretty hard and it´s impossible to tell exactly things like "he´s sitting on KJo". when you´r starting out, work first on your board-reading abilities. re-read the section in HOH and have better one look more on the community cards than one too less. you can´t put your opponent on a hand, if your not correctly analizing the boards structure.

if you´re able to make notes on your opponents, mark them as tight or loose preflop and aggressive or passive postflop. keep harringtons ranges of hands for tight, loose and wild style play in mind and you´ll have an idea what your opponents might have.

When reading your hand history:
Try to look at how many hands you play, you should play pretty tight very early somewhere below the 20% mark, and loosen up as the table gets shorter.
Look at how many hands you raise and how many hands you limp, you shold be raising much more then calling
Then look at positions, you should be playing most of your hands from late position.

Download the demo version of poker office or poker tracker if you want, it will help you analyze your hands much more easily

Awesome. Thank all of you for the great input and comfidence. I will, or try my best to, do what you all say.

O hey- usually there is a nonsensical post from miffed or bigred or someone that is usually kinda funny- where are those i need my laughs guys