Ben ‘Bennyboi’ Grundy - Evaluating your Game

I think a useful way to evaluate your game is to look at some key areas and give yourself a mark out of 10. You could even write a brief summary of your strengths and weaknesses in that area. Being honest about your weaknesses is the key to improving.

The point I am trying to put across is that regular self assessment of your game is one of the best ways to improve. If you are losing consistently over a long period of time, to be blunt, it’s probably because you are playing badly. Excuses are easy to make but unfortunately they will not change your fortunes.

Here are some key areas you could use to assess your game. It is not a comprehensive list and I would encourage you to make up additional categories to assess your own game:

Game Selection

This is possibly the most crucial part of your game at any level. You need to consistently select games that you know have been profitable for you in the past. You should be asking yourself questions like: Do I play in games that are too big for my bankroll? Am I playing in games that I enjoy rather than the ones that I am better at? Am I playing too many tables at the same time?

The Mathematics of Poker

Good mathematical knowledge of poker is an attribute that most successful poker players utilise. When you are playing, do you know the percentage chance that you will make the hand that you’re playing for?

(There is a simple way to calculate the approximate percentage chance you have of hitting an out on the next card: multiply the number of outs you have by 2 and add 2). Do you understand and utilise pot odds and implied odds when you play? These are all essential to comprehend if you want to win in the long term.

Emotional Control

How well do you react to a bad run of cards or being unlucky? The best players often play better in adversity after they have just suffered a bad beat whereas others may just start playing badly or go "on tilt" as players call it. This is particularly easy to do online. You can become trigger happy and just raise every hand without the embarrassment of other players being able to watch you like in a live environment. It’s so easy to go on tilt online, don't do it, try to regain your composure. Remember that other players will be more likely to call your bets if they feel you’re tilting.

Keeping Records

This is extremely easy to do online as you can create a quick spreadsheet to keep track of how you do in different games. It’s important to keep statistics recording win/losses to help you identify the games they need to improve in or to avoid completely. If you record how you’re doing at different levels in all the different varieties of game you play (such as Hold’em, Single Table Tournaments, Omaha etc.) then you’ll soon be able to identify where your strength and weaknesses are.

Now try writing down the games that you regularly play online e.g. NL Hold’em, Limit Hold’em, Single Table Tournaments, Pot Limit Omaha, Multi Table tournaments etc. and rate your skill level at all the games out of 10. Do this same exercise in a few months without looking at the marks you made last time and then compare your results. Hopefully you will see an improvement.

See you at the tables,

Ben Grundy (aka Bennyboi)