How long does it take to become a competent poker player?

[Patrick McIrish]

I saw this asked on another forum and was amazed at the diversity of the answers....

[Tekari]

It is not time as in months etc. but hours played. Also I think a player goes through different stages on his way to becoming a winning player.

[RPM]

im in the VERY early stages!!! http://therx.infopop.cc/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[PO69]

Judging from the amount of time that most players play, I would say about 2 years

[PO69]

The MAIN key is to know the EXACT %'s of getting a given hand with each card that is drawn.

For instance, lets say that in the hole you have a pair of 8's. Pretty good hand usually, but in the back of your mind, you must be thinking of the exact odds that someone has better than you. Then on the flop, and the other cards, if you dont get another 8, then you have a great chance of losing the hand to a straight, flush or higher paired card that is a community card. Most people would LOVE a pair of 8's each hand. But one needs to realize that with 10 players, probably at least 6 of them with have a facecard in their hands with which to pair up to on the flop and successive cards. That is where bluffing comes into play. If you bet strong before the flop, then maybe everyone else will think that you have a pair of ace's. That works great unless someone at the table actually has a pair of aces

[theswami]

McIrish-

I hate to say this but I think the answer is, "it depends." The factors one must consider, among other things are what "competent" means and if the person has played any form of poker previously.

I'm not an expert but here are my thoughts under the following parameters;
1)We are referring to a recreational player attempting to become "competent" not a professional player,
2)Competent - Defined as a winning player at a common low limit say 1/2 or 3/6,
3)The player is of average intelligence or better and wants to win,
4)The player has played some form (home type games) of poker previously on more than a handful of occasions,
5) The player is attempting to become "competent" at Texas Hold Em and has never played before, and
6) The player faces competition of average skill level.

Under those assumptions, I think it would take probably two years of playing fairly regularly (a few times a month) to get a good feel for the game and begin to win. If our "player" read a book or two, knows a bit about probablility/statistics, and played regularly, he could narrow that down to a year or so.

[CHOPTALK]

I think there are different levels of good.


Its not that important how good you are. The important thing is how good are you at selecting the games against competition that is not as good as you.

The biggest problem people have is playing at limits that they are not ready for.

I faught with this for years.

I could dominate the sag tourneys if I did not go above $15. I was not satisfied. I thought my time was worth more to me than that, so I kept making the mistake of playing the $20 to $30s and would get killed.

So I finally learned my lesson. Im playing $15 games and not depositing money every week.

I also have come to find out that the money adds up fast if you are a good player at that level.

[Anonymous1]

don't ask me...i just went all in with a spade flush on flop with A on board and Q6 in pocket...yup...K2 spade across the table at the 6 seat 1-2 nl ring game...I'LL WONDER HOW ANYBODY HERE CAN PROFESS WINNING THE HAND...moral...if your unlucky your unlicky and done in the game of holdem...

[peskypup]

I'd say 6 months using the same assumptions as aswami.

Over the past month I've moved up to $50 plus SnGs from 20s and 30s, and actually find it easier to win at that level. Although they are stronger players, they are also more readable and playing a narrower range of hands, but its early days for that.

August is more or less a write-off for me poker wise. I will be spending a lot of time getting my capping models ready for the NFL and rugby seasons, plus tennis is in full swing and the weather is really good for playing sports instead of betting them.

So it will be mostly a month off poker for me until September.

[gynecologist]

I have learned lately that finding the right table is the most
important thing you need to do. I like tables with calling machines.

[cris4700]

Minute to learn, lifetime to master?
I think as long as you know the basic odds of continuing the hand your in, and how to bet someone out of pot, you are way ahead of the game. Read your players and put your ass on the line at the right times and anythign canhappen. Ignorance is an advantage sometimes

[AL.A]

if u really want to improve at online poker, buy yourself some poker tools like
poker tracker and u will eventully learn where u are bleeding money and correct it. another great tool is poker ace hud which i now find indispensible to my game. using these programs have really changed my game

[ProPokerPlayer]

Pokers like anything else.....some people are born with it, some people learn it and some people never do get it (like me).

As far as i know the current #1 ranked player at pckt 5's has been playing around 1 yr

[ECS]

Well, I think its all about what you put into it, you can probaly play for years and still be bad if you are not into it to be better. I put in 100 bucks when I very first started, and lost it very quickly. Instead of putting more money in I decided I wanted to get better and started to read, probaly went through 12 books at the least all while playing low limit to get a feel for hands.

Im now working on about 2-3 years and have no idea how much, but im defintally in the positive 4-5 digits.