Quote Originally Posted by mcatdog
My advice: if you want to learn how to play real poker, then sit down at a table full of nits and practice running them over. Try to get a sense of just how much you can get away with. You might drop a buy-in or three if you get a little bit too out of line, but the lessons you learn will be worth exponentially more to your ability to keep beating the games in the long run.
I'll put my hand up and say 'guilty' in response to the OP. I win consistently at 25NL but it doesn't take much more than half a brain and half a game. When looking at my stats not long ago and reflecting on how I need to improve my game it 'clicked' that I need to open up, stop playing cards and start playing poker.

I dropped down a stake and did exactly what mcatdog suggested. The results were enlightening. Opening up my range, pushing people off good hands 3-betting with air/marginal hands and firing second barrels when sensing weakness yielded great results - things I just don't do without nuts or close to at my normal stakes. I ended up something ridiculous like 130bb for the session but the point of the exercise was to learn and learn I did.

Good post Lukie!