Don't Let Your Poker Game Stagnate
In any competitive walk of life, you either have to adapt or die in order to stay on top of the endless innovation and change that occurs.
Anyone used to watching snooker will know what I am talking about immediately here - the lack of belief and creativity that holds players back no matter how obviously the situation requires some risk.
Take breaking the pack up early in snooker as an example. It used to be the case that players deemed breaking up the pack early as too risky, potted every loose ball, and then if they were feeling very adventurous went into the pack, or simply played safe.
Then Hendry, Davis and O'Sullivan came along, started trying to bring balls into play whenever the opportunity arose, and coupled with their incredible ability soon started destroying the conservative players. The interesting thing about what happened next is something that is very relevant to poker, and one that it is crucial to understand: Very few of the old guard adapted.
People get locked into styles of behaviour in all walks of life, but especially in sports and games. Despite being shown time and time again that a new style of play is winning all the money, people either refuse to admit they and their style are wrong and outdated, or they fail to have the self belief to open up their game enough to compete. Either way, they steadily lose as the new generation takes the game to a much higher level.
This effect is particularly apparent in poker. Players who simply refused to open up their starting hand requirements, or who failed to learn from and adapt to the the new three, four and even five bet bluffing styles that have developed amongst good players have simply fallen off the radar, or are now consistent losers in the game. They have lost the creative edge needed to not only understand a play, but also to have the courage to follow their convictions and change their game.
In any competitive walk of life, you either have to adapt or die in order to stay on top of the endless innovation and change that occurs. Fundamental to being able to do this is to keep not only an open mind, but also to allow your creative juices to flow and try and analyse why and how certain players are winning. No matter how well you do at a given stake level, there is always something new to learn, and becoming stagnant in this game might not kill you in a session, but it certainly will over the year.
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