Developing Your Poker Style
The exposure of Poker players on television has encouraged more people to play the game, which is very welcome. However, a majority of these individuals tend to rely too much on what they see and just try to copy their styles, leading to mediocre plays. The fact is that being a copycat will not help you win.
It is all right to respect and admire the professional, and their Poker playing style. However, what you should try to emulate is their success, not the way that they dress or talk. This is not just a question of a lack of originality; the truth is that the pro players behave the way that they do because it is part of their game plan.
For you to succeed, you must try to be your own self. No doubt you will want to begin with tried and tested strategies, but you must learn to innovate and improvise. The Poker playing style that you must use should fit your personality and your goals.
For example, table image. If you want to play in a tight aggressive Poker playing style, that does not mean that you have to fit the stereotype image of being, serious, frowning and quiet. If you can play in the above mentioned manner and be jovial and talkative, so be it. In fact, the more difficult you are to pigeonhole, the better chance of success you will have.
The same can be said for avoiding tells in a Poker game. A lot of players will use shades, hats, overcoats, etc. You do not have to do this to win games. If you can conceal your tells without resorting to wearing anything fancy, that is what you should do. Remember, the bottom line at any table is that you want to win money. Fashion is not important.
The pro players that wear this or that when playing in tourneys do so for a reason, often to psyche out their opponents. Unless you know how to do this, you should avoid it.
A Poker playing style involves your entire personality, how you present yourself at the table, your strategies etc. If you want to make headway, developing your own style will be necessary.
By imitating what you see, you only make yourself look like an amateur and also easier to read. Instead of trying to get other players to think that you look like this or that, try to remain anonymous, and you will be a more profitable Poker player.
