Remember when you were amazed at how your little sibling started picking up words around the house just by watching and listening? Or when you watched your older brother or a friend playing video games and eventually felt that you could do it too?
If any of those examples don’t ring a bell, I don’t know what you were doing those days. But here’s the thing: those situations show how well we can learn just by observing others.
And if you do not believe that, maybe you would believe what the scientists have chimed in. They’ve found that certain parts of our brain, including the anterior cingulate cortex and basolateral amygdala, light up when we learn by watching. Another finding is that watching tutorial videos can be an effective way to learn.
Still not convinced? Take Phil Ivey, for example. He’s improved his game by watching and learning from other players. He’s always asking for advice and opinions from fellow pros, and it’s definitely paid off — just look at his massive $38.3 million+ live tournament winnings!
I won’t say anything again. However, since we are talking about being a “better player” from watching poker, you sure know it is your skills that you are better’ing here, which turns out to be the “why”. So, keep reading to discover some important poker skills you can pick up just by watching others play.
You and probably a bunch of folks think poker’s just about luck. But ask any pro player, and they’ll tell you it all comes down to your skills. Reading the game? That’s a biggie.
Having the prowess for analysing situations helps you figure out the old “whether to keep playing or fold”, based on your hand and what you think others are holding.
So, buddy, watch the pros, whether online or in person, and you’ll start picking up on the deep thinking behind every move. It’s as if you are decoding their strategies and making them your own.
And here’s a cool tip: Pay attention to how they handle bet sizing. It can be tricky, but with some critical analysis, you can master it. Get it and analytical thinking right, and you’ll be a grave danger to your opponents.
Playing poker requires mental strength and resilience because you’re going to lose money at a point, and it takes resilience to bounce back. Maybe you’d need the kind of mental strength you see in characters such as Bart Gregory from the horror film, The Revenant (2009).
Losing streaks happen, especially if you’re a beginner who has yet to develop a solid strategy and adaptability. But it’s how you handle those losses that really matters. Taking in all the setbacks and obstacles, yet finding the strength to bounce back and keep pushing forward, even when everything seems to be against you — that’s a superpower. And you can definitely watch and learn from players who’ve mastered this skill.
You might think, “Haven’t we covered something similar before?” Well, yes, we have. But while Mental Resilience and Staying Calm Under Pressure share similarities, they’re not quite the same. Mental resilience is about bouncing back from setbacks and adapting to change. For staying calm under pressure, it is more about keeping your cool in stressful situations.
Poker can mess with your head because of all the uncertainties involved. If you’re not careful or don’t know how to handle the pressure, you can end up making some serious mistakes.
However, watching poker, especially in tournaments, can help you learn how to stay calm even during the most intense moments of the game. Poker players who are able to stay calm under pressure will undoubtedly have an advantage over those who can’t.
There’s a wide variety of poker games out there, each with its own set of rules and sometimes even different hand rankings. You can get a good hold of these variations by simply watching people play.
If you’re tuning into poker games via live stream, you’ve got an added advantage: the chance to learn and engage with different events or games. For example, platforms such as Twitch often allow viewers to chat with the streamer and others watching. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions, discuss strategies, and gain valuable insights.
What’s extraordinarily cool about poker is that the skills you pick up aren’t limited to one version of the game. They’re totally transferable, even outside of poker. This means that skills learned from one variant of poker can be used to develop strategies for another one.
When you spend some time watching poker players, you start to notice the different styles they use. Generally, there are four basic types of poker playing styles:
Each style comes with its own unique approach to the game. Once you’re familiar with all these styles and how players using them act in real situations, you’ll be better equipped to adjust your strategy based on who you’re up against.
We have been talking about watching others play all day as if that is the only thing we came to this life to do. Apart from that, watching your own games can be of tremendous help if you’re looking to sharpen your poker skills. You might probably be wondering how you can watch your own games; don’t worry we’ll get to that in a minute.
If you play online poker, you can use advanced software such as PokerTracker to help you track and analyze your poker sessions. You can also utilize screen recording software to capture your screen while you’re playing so you can rewatch the games later.
Rewatching your games and nicely analyzing them will help you identify the mistakes you made. You can also compare your strategies to those of more experienced players to see how you can improve.
Feel free to take a trip to nearby casinos to watch poker games. Most casinos don’t mind if people just come to watch, as long as you adhere to the house rules. You might even decide to play a game or two if you feel up to it.
Instead of visiting casinos, you can watch online from wherever you are with your computer or smartphone. You can find poker live streams on social media platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.
You can also subscribe to streaming services if you’re looking for more access or features such as personalized and on-demand content. These platforms typically offer flexible month-to-month plans, which you can cancel at any time. This way, you can enjoy a tailored viewing experience that fits your schedule and preferences.
If you’re someone who’s a bit stingy or just not keen on splurging big bucks, even for your beloved game, chances are you have a satellite or cable TV subscription. From the comfort of your own home, you can kick back and enjoy watching poker. However, you might find that your access is limited to televised poker competitions comprising the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
If you are still doubting something after all these explanations, you deserve to be on the government’s watchlist. Maybe I’ve been speaking Chinese this whole time, who knows?
Sure, learning through observation is effective, but it’s only part of the puzzle. To really up your game in poker, you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and get in the action yourself.
If you don’t have enough money to play regularly at casinos in order to strengthen your skills, you can sign up on poker sites and use demo accounts when available to enjoy risk-free gameplay.
It’s also ideal to become a member of online poker forums. These forums are a great way to network and connect with like-minded individuals who can help you develop new strategies or upgrade existing ones.
