Game Selection

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Game Selection

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Francesco Lacriola

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Game Selection

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Francesco Lacriola

POSTED Oct 08, 2022

Francesco tackles all the questions that evolve around the underrated topic of game selection and explains why it will not only impact your poker results but also your lifestyle as a poker player.

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i-hate-soup 2 years, 3 months ago

Hi Francesco, thanks for the Video. There is definitely allot to think about for each individual player. In answer to your question in the video. I am part time player who can only play about 100k hands a year. I chose sites with hIgh Rake and lots recreational players. For me poker is a hobby so I need to be enjoying my time. I only enjoy poker when I am improving and have results that show I am beating the games.

In the past I would play Zoom games that were much tougher. it was hard on my mindset being a slight winner. it was not enjoyable going through long down swings over say 6 months.

Francesco Lacriola 2 years, 3 months ago

The lower your expected winrate, the more common breakeven or losing stretches are going to be. This doesn't depend only on your winrate, but also on the STD deviation (it can be higher or lower, according to how high variance your playstyle is and to how the player pool plays), so in very soft games if you play a solid tight strategy it's going to be lower than in tougher player pools.

The thing that matters the most is that you're enjoying your time while playing, especially if your main goal is to make a secondary source of income out of poker, as accumulated stress at the tables might transfer into other areas of your life (including your main occupation). So, as long as you're enjoying your time at the tables, feel your game is improving, don't worry if you would be able to make a little bit extra per hour if the tradeoff between $EV and lifeEV might be unfavorable :)

SoundSpeed 2 years, 3 months ago

I really appreciate you doing this video.

6:58 was interesting. You talk about do we want to maximize ev or do we prefer a more steady cash flow. Does that mean that we don't take certain lines if it increases variance even if it is gto approved and is the highest ev? I always thought we should strive to take the line that always maximizes ev in a cash game. Taking lower variance lines is definitely a thing in tournies.

You also said some players will never have the skills to reach high stakes. Do you think that some people who realky work hard and grind the solvers and train will simply never make it no matter what?

Do you feel that there is a certain amount of untrainable talent that you have to have? Maybe a certain thought process or way of thinking or even a certain ability to process information or remember things that the best players have that other people physically do not have?

Thanks!

Francesco Lacriola 2 years, 3 months ago

We can play a lower variance strategy if the player pool allows us to if we prefer. Sure in the long run we make potentially less money than a player that always take the highest EV line, but experience way smaller swings, face less tough decisions and have a strategy which is easier to execute. We don't always play our A-game, especially if we're trying to put some volume in, so there's no shame in deciding to play it safe.

Poker is a very complex game and the strategy part (especially today) is only a small piece of the puzzle. A few years ago you could have a MASSIVE edge by just having a good understanding of strategy, today, even if you play way better than in the past, so does your opposition, and at 200-500 NL most players' base strategies are OK. They still make mistakes, they're still beatable, but it takes another set of skills to make it to the next level and strategical understanding alone won't get you there.

Discipline, consistency, the ability to play close to your A-game even during prolonged downswing, game selecting and table selecting all play a huge role today if you check the top winners. In my opinion these skills in today's landscape are even more relevant than playing a very solid approximation of GTO strategies.

mx404 1 year, 8 months ago

Hey Francesco! This is a very comprehensive video. I really like your idea about reach the comfort zone, have not thought about playing my A game from that perspective before. Thank you for that!

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