"Getting it?"

[Bobweiser]

Alright, just to warn people..this post is a bit mushy, but I promise you there is an answer I am looking for.

I am looking for the "mindset" I need to be in.

When I say that, I think about math. Once you 'get it' you 'get it' and you can apply all math equations of a similar structure to it.

In poker, I feel like I'm a lost puppy. I have thousands of things running through my head such as 'why is he betting this much,' 'what am I trying to accomplish by betting or raising this much?' etc.

In honesty, after reading a couple books on the subject, and reading nearly every post on these forums, the answer to those questions is: "I DONT KNOW."

The more I read and research, the more I ask these questions (which I admit its good to be asking those questions) the more I realize I don't have the answer to my play.

I need guidance as to where I can find the answers I am looking for.

I just need to "GET IT."

It may be something found over 500,000 hands.

It may be something that just hasn't clicked yet.

How did you 'get it?'

When did you 'get it?'

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

I'm still getting it. But I've gotten a lot more than I used to by reading almost everything I can, posting on forums like these, and most importantly, putting in the time and scrutinizing my play as much as I can. There really is no substitute for experience and working on your game with friends, either live or in the internet world, like here.

[gumbie]

Experience is very important, and the more hands you play, the more you will get. Study can accelerate the learning process in many areas but is not useful in others.

It does depend on how good your brain is a the poker skill set, and for some people 100M hands wont be enough.

[supafrey]

Figuring out the difference between winning pots and winning money was a pretty big step for me. That and that preflop selection is more important than I ever gave it credit for. That and why I should have position in every pot.

[Ciso_B]

If you think you've got it, then you probably are nowehre near having it. What I mean is, poker is a game where by you have to continually assess and reassess the game and how you're playing....when you stop , you realise people have caught up with you or are close behind.

Even if you win the wsop main event, I'd wager everything I own that you made mistakes.No winner of a tournament has probably played perfect poker throughout the entire tournament. So when you think like that, you just have to eradicate as many mistakes u make,as u possibly can.

I learnt a while ago that you can always keep getting better, so as long as you are dedicated to improving all the time and not get an ego and think you're the don-you can hope to make money in the long run.

[lwestatbus]

Welcome to the Forum. This was a really good question. I also think that the collection of answers you got were from some of the people whose opinions I respect most on the Forum.

"It" is a multidimensional construct (which you recognize). I think it was Howard Lederer (may have been Phil Gordon) who said that the person who wins in the long run is the one who can consider the most factors in their decision making. But unfortunately the "most factors" can be a daunting concept for us to get our arms around. (George Plimpton's description of coordinating all of the aspects of a golf swing also applies to poker decision making.)

I basically added different factors to my decision making as my experience progressed. I didn't try to consider everything at once. I worked with each small set of factors until it was automatic and I was comfortable with it, and then I added something new to the mix. So the prior factors played on auto pilot leaving me to focus on the new features.

I agree with supafrey about preflop hand selection and this should be the starting point. Not from what hands to play but WHY.

Good luck.